What sort of builder do I need for this?

[FuturShoc]

Hey, guys (and gals?)

First post here.

Here's my problem. I have a great basement shop where I do my piddling, woodworking and old woodworking machine restoration. The size is probably just fine, but it has one flaw that drives me nuts: four cinder block pillars that hold up the floor joists above. The pillars force me to arrange my machines in a specific way and its nearly impossible to move a 4x8 sheet of plywood around down there.

I'm convinced that these pillars could be replaced with a couple of steel I-beam "arches" which would simply relocate the supports to the outer walls. Therefore freeing the space of those dastardly obstructions.

I'm wondering if anyone can tell me what sort of builder I need to find to quote me the job. Not really knowing much about such a project, I called a house leveler. They really didn't seem to even know what I was talking about.

 

[RivennHewn]

Any real General Contractor.

Emphasis on 'real'

 

[JC23]

How thick is the floor?

 

[Fyrme]

The first call needs to be to a structural engineer. He can come look at it and tell you if it can be done, and what it needs to make it possible. Then you just need to contact a builder that is experienced with homes or structures with crawl space/basement foundations. You need to be careful with selecting the builder because if you live in an area like I do, in the last 30 years of home building the standard homes have gone to slabs, and basements have been pretty much extinct here since 1950. This has produced builders and contractors that don't know how to build a house off the ground.

 

[sberry]

I looked at a job similar a while back, the guy couldnt understand my reluctance, I needed to get engineer for at least part of it,, he was,,, why can you just etc, had no real concept of how much of this structure was on a support he wanted removed. Was built by a ,,, well,,, less than quality builder/designer in the first place.

 

[where2]

When I asked the structural engineer about making the sliding door opening in the first floor wall of my 1962 concrete block and stucco two story house larger, he smiled and said "no problem". When asked whether we could move downstairs walls, again he said "no problem". I can't do either without a signed & sealed structural engineers drawing. All it takes to get one of those is $$$.

Once you have a structural engineering drawing, then find a general contractor.

 

[Bib Overalls]

What you are asking sounds simple in execution but it is a very complex engineering problem. The spans, orientation of the floor joists, load, etc. all have to be taken into consideration when sizing the beams. And then there is the issue of bearing the weight at the outer edges of the building. Properly sized beams may intrude on your head room as well.

 

[FuturShoc]

Hmm. Yes, I see your point about head clearance, if the engineering necessitates a particular size of I-beam.

I'll see about what it might cost to get an engineer's assessment.

Thanks, guys.

 

[Toolfool]

Structural engineer first. He may also be able to recommend a qualified general contractor.

 

[Gary S]

I would agree that this is a job for a structural engineer to decide what size I beams you need and where you need them. Once that is decided, you can probably do the work yourself. But, steel I beams will be heavy to get in place.

 

[JakeKohl]

Could be simple, could be complex. You probably have other load bearing walls above these pillars and if so, you really need to have an engineer look at it so all the loads can be accounted for. If it's just a floor structure above them with no walls, it is a pretty simple problem to solve using just span tables (and most places that sell lumber trusses / engineered beams can help you with that if its that simple).

 

[kbs2244]

Find your local structural steel supplier.
They have the guys to spec and install what you want.

My only concern is the extra weight you are now putting on the outside foundation walls.
Are they block also?
If so, talk to the steel guys about the possible need for new concrete pads and post at the ends of the beams.
If they don’t want to do the concrete work they can suggest someone.

Or they may just suggest a ¼ steel plate to bridge the weight across 4 to 6 feet of wall.

 

[readhead]

I am the local structural steel supplier. I am also a general contractor. The first step is to contact a structural engineer. Most shops like ours do not have one on staff but we work closely with several local PE's. They will create a plan based on what you want to have happen such as head room and if you can tolerate some posts. He my want soil samples to determine if the walls will need to be underpinned. You will pay him or her for a set of stamped plans that you can take to the building department to aquire a permit. You can then put those plans out for quote. That way everybody is looking at the same thing. Watch for things like the engineer wants to install a 30' beam and you only have a 10' side yard. Be prepared. This could get spendy when you are talking about threading new beams into an existing building. If it is an old house consider the effects of "leveling" the floor and the potential damage it can do to existing finishes up stairs.

 

[FuturShoc]

You guys have raised alot of points I hadn't thought of. The main reason I was looking at the structural change is that building a new, separate shop would likely be impractical for my neighborhood. I'd lose the investment when I go to sell in a couple of years.

My thinking here was if I could make the change in the existing basement shop, maybe I could buy myself the benefits of the open shop for alot less. I wouldn't mind spending a couple thousand doing this.

But now I'm hearing "spendy"... Maybe I'll just have to accept it until I move.

 

[readhead]

Get an estimate from an engineer and see if you want to spend the money for the plans. You will have them in case you want to move forward latter. They don't go bad.

 

[FuturShoc]

I'll probably get an estimate, yes.

Thanks for your input, guys.

 

[PAToyota]

But now I'm hearing "spendy"... Maybe I'll just have to accept it until I move.

Definitely talk to a structural engineer before you write it off. Ask him what it would cost in his hourly rate to come out, take a look at things, and advise you on what he thinks it would take. If it looks doable, then hire him for the project.