Replacing Odd Support Posts in Basement

[OldPartTimer]

I have an older house with support posts in my basement. The basement is 40 feet long and has two support posts. Apparently, when the house was built the posts on hand were too short. So, a hump about 6 inches high and about 2 feet in diameter, which slopes, was added underneath them. I especially need to get rid of one of the humps. I need to lay flooring there.

I believe my options are as follows:

Option #1 - Add another longer post nearby to support the beam, level the hump, and replace the post with a longer post.

Option #2 - Add two more posts to cover the space, remove the original post, and remove the hump. I could probably cover the posts if I could move them.

Anyone know the best way to do this?

Thank you.

 

[red61cj5]

Easy, go to lumber yard and get 3 adjustable lolly columns, put one on each side of the hump and adjust them up to your beam, remove the original column, remove the hump, smooth out the floor, and put the third column in place of the original one. remove the two side columns and return them to the store. Frame and box the column in some nice wood.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Is it possible that the "hump" is possibly the footing at the base the column and the floor was added afterwards but at a lower level to allow some headroom?

 

[pstnbly]

Easy, go to lumber yard and get 3 adjustable lolly columns, put one on each side of the hump and adjust them up to your beam, remove the original column, remove the hump, smooth out the floor, and put the third column in place of the original one. remove the two side columns and return them to the store. Frame and box the column in some nice wood.

^^^^^ this + 1

 

[Bondo]

So, a hump about 6 inches high and about 2 feet in diameter, which slopes, was added underneath them. I especially need to get rid of one of the humps.

Ayuh,.... A hump, of What,..??

 

[BillK]

Sounds like footings to me.

 

[dadsEH]

 

[larry_g]

Be careful here, that sounds like a footing to me also. I suspect Leafless is on the right track.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Stuart in MN]

The posts need to be on footings, but the footing can be rebuilt so it's flush to the floor.

 

[ZRX61]

The posts need to be on footings, but the footing can be rebuilt so it's flush to the floor.

That.

 

[OldPartTimer]

The footing idea makes sense. How would that footing have been constructed? And, how should it be rebuilt?

Thanks.

 

[csp]

The footing would most likely be another concrete pad under the floor.

Footings get poured first, then finished floor goes in once the columns are in place.

 

[mrpizza]

Sounds like a footing, i agree with the others. Also, if you use posts from the store dont return them after, tbats shady. Besides, you might need them later.

 

[OldPartTimer]

So, what if I support the beam, take the old one out, level the "hump," smooth the concrete with more concrete, and put a new post in its place? Will that work or do I need to do more?

Thanks.

 

[acer66]

I my exes basement had the same thing and I was told by an old timer that this is quite common when the basement has water issues which is normal around here for older houses to get the post out of the flood zone.

 

[Hawk]

So, what if I support the beam, take the old one out, level the "hump," smooth the concrete with more concrete, and put a new post in its place? Will that work or do I need to do more?

Thanks.

That "may" work, or you may be weakening (thinning) the footing. The best thing is to get a local engineer to check it out. Or second best would be to brace the beam with the lolly post, dig out the old footings, replace with the proper depth footings for your area. Thene replace the column.

 

[OldPartTimer]

I lost my place, but thanks for all your help. I know what to do now.

 

[58Yeoman]

remove the two side columns and return them to the store.

Really? You're kidding, right?

 

[APEowner]

You have to be careful with your temporary support posts as well. The floor next to the footing may not be strong enough to support the post and there's sometimes a joint in the beam at the existing post that requires additional attention when building the temporary support.

 

[hh76]

Probably a good time to have an engineer take a look. Knowing how some older homes were built, might be good for them to review column locations/beam spans to avoid any future issues.

 

[engineer2]

I know someone who got rid of their posts in the middle of the basement. They bought a steel H-beam of the right size and length and got it in through a basement window. Supported it on both ends with adjustable steel columns. It really opened up the space. You have to do a load calculation to size the beam. There should be online calculators for this. Google L/360 calculator. Results may vary depending on what's upstairs.

 

[simpler=better]

I lost my place, but thanks for all your help. I know what to do now.

Sorry to hear it

 

[mmb617]

remove the two side columns and return them to the store.

Really? You're kidding, right?

It always surprises me that a lot of people don't see anything wrong with that sort of thing.

I've heard of women "buying" a dress for some special occasion then returning it after wearing it to that event. I don't see the column return as any different. Still wrong.

 

[woodzy]

On my house, they poured concrete 12" thick in about a 2' diameter puck at the level of the stones under the concrete floor at each column location. They added the adjustable column's built the house and then poured the entire 4" floor to cement them in place. I would think you need more than just the concrete floor to support the weight of the floor above.