Replace Wood Support Beam With Steel

[TraderGuy]

Recently moved into a new place and installed a Wildfire Lift. The ceiling is right at 10' but I have to deal with a beam supporting the room over the garage and the rest of the structure. I'd like to minimize the impact of the beam and am considering replacing it with steel. The current beam is boxed in and finished, so I don't know exactly what's under it. Visible size is 19" x 10" x 29'.

Wondering if anyone has done a project like this. I would hire this out, have it engineered, etc. I'm looking for anyone who has done something like this or has knowledge of what's involved - ideally a rough cost range and what can be expected in terms of height savings over the existing 19".

 

[readhead]

As a steel fabricator I have done it several times. You will need to do some investigating first to determine if it is a flush or dropped beam. If it is dropped, joists go over the top, you are in luck. Cut back the drywall enough to give you room to work and provide temporary support for the joists on both sides of the beam. Remove the drywall on the beam, cut the joists just short of the beam, raise the beam and install blocks under the beam at both ends, attach the joists with hangers, repair the drywall and paint.

If it is flush it is a lot more complicated. Have an engineer size the beam and contact a local fabricator that has done this kind of work before. An option to discuss with the engineer that would be easier is to install a flitch beam. A flitch beam is made up of LVL and steel plates laminated and bolted together in place.

It is doable but it will be a mess for a few days. Good luck.

 

[TraderGuy]

Thank you. I believe It's a dropped beam. I've snaked wires over it to add electrical outlets to the front of the garage, so it can't be flush.

If I do use the same beam with joist hangers, I assume I'll pick up the depth of the joist by converting it to a flush mount.

Just checked the joist depth, looks like 2x12s.

 

[readhead]

Sounds like you have the easy route and you will pick up 11 1/4”.

 

[readhead]

Another thing I should mention is that when you do your investigation check to see if there are any pipes running over the beam. It’s not a deal breaker but it does affect your approach. You may not be able to lift the existing beam but there are ways to go through a steel beam or a flitch beam. The engineer needs to know all the conditions before the fix is designed.

 

[kbs2244]

I have a friend with a steel beam at the mid-point of his attached garage
a bedroom above
when they came to install the opener they torched a hole in the web of the beam and threaded the shaft through
a shaft extension put the motor on the far side from the door and allowed the J bar to bring the door all the way to the beam

 

[TraderGuy]

Thanks. Have an appointment with an engineer to take a look, and draw up a design.

I don’t expect any pipes above, but there are wires.

If I do this, and modify the door to high-lift, I should be able to stack the cars on the lift.

 

[quellofool]

Did you end following through with this project? I have a similar predicament, 10' ceilings but a support beam that encroaches 2'.

 

[TraderGuy]

I did, to a point. I had an engineer out, he developed options and provided specs and drawings for each. Drilled some test holes to see what is what, and it turns out the beam that's there is steel. Received an estimate on doing the work, but have not pulled the trigger on it yet.