DIY Network

I bought a home that was built in 1934, and some where along the way people have done things here and there. With that in mind here is my issue.

my home is about 30 feet long and about 20 feet wide.

In the bacement I have 4 beams that are about 6 feet from each other, and they have a colum/pole (wood 4x6's) every 6 feet as well. I'm trying to finish my basement or try and make plans for it, but its a bit hard when I have a pole every 6 feet (or about)

I have 1 beam that looks to be orignal to the house, and its braced every 6 feet with newer wood that is in the center of my home.

Another beam looks rather new, as does the poles holding it. Is 12 feet or a little less/more inches too much to ask out of a 2x6? I don't know myself what is safe and what is not.

Thanks,
jay

I'm not sure what your question is, but if you're considering removing columns, don't. If they are not original to the structure, it's a sure thing they were put there to correct sag.

Sorry I was a little vage on what my question was. Yes removal of the columns. I'm thinking about getting an I beam to replace the wood beams so that I don't have to brace it with a column every 6 feetor is getting a thicker wood beam cheeper? I'll have to look into more.

Someone that knows what he's looking at really needs to be looking at this before anything gets pulled out or changed.
With that many braces added then something bad was going on down there for them to have gone to all that work.
99% of the time I've seen home owners add bracing it's in the wrong place, not supported under the post correctly, made of the wrong materials.

quote:

Originally posted by *Jay*:
Sorry I was a little vage on what my question was. Yes removal of the columns. I'm thinking about getting an I beam to replace the wood beams so that I don't have to brace it with a column every 6 feetor is getting a thicker wood beam cheeper? I'll have to look into more.

Yes, you can replace the existing support structure with a beam. However, you really need a professional to size the beam and associated supports. And then the actual work would be a very advanced DIY project, probably better left to an experienced contractor.

I hope this doesn't add to the confusion. The four beams are parallel and spaced out about 6' apart? One is probably original and the others are recent additions.

To begin with what are the floor joist measurements? Both length and height. The spacing is probably 16" On Center. The extra beams were probably added to firm up a springy floor. That says to me that either the person was fussy about a bouncy floor or that the floor joists are on the light side for the original span. If you want to reduce the number of supported beams you're going to have to add to the strength of the floor joist system.

You may be able to reduce the number of posts supporting the beams only if the beams are strong enough to span the new post spacing. I think that the beams aren't strong enough do do that. So then you have to add more wood to the beams and make them taller. Making beams wider going crosswise doesn't help much.

You need someone who can stand there and look at the situation to figure out what if anything can be done for this floor.

Just a single window of hope. It is possible that the floor was reinforced for purposes of carrying extra heavy weight, like a couple of grand pianos, and normal loading won't be a problem with the original framing, beams and posts.

yes I have 4 beams about 6 feet apart, the beams them self are held up with a post every 6 feet. The floor joists are 12 feet long and made up of 2x6's and the rear of the home has older floor joists made up of 2 1/2x 7 odd size I know, but its down there.

I'm not wanting to remove the beams, but the posts are was causing me not to be able to do anything with the bacement.

I have a 4x6 beam (wood) should it have a post every 6 feet or could it do with out all that?

(some more info on the home)

built in 1934, the attic has 3x6 along the floor I don't beleave at this time that any wall in my home is a loaded wall. My roof is done up with 2x4's (that I need to brace due to a roof slope) The home itself was a rental I don't know how long it has been one, just that it was. I've been going through and fixing all the little fixes that have been done along the way to keep it "livable" I have updated all the wires, plugs and light switches.

I don't plan on doing it myself, I just want to know what needs done and how to go about it so I kind of know what the pro knows. I think some time ago looking at the floor boards that the front half of the home was refloored, and braced, the rear of the home didn't get the same treatment, but got braced. I have to drill through the floor and found what apeared to eb concreat, later I found out that somebody got all that to leval the floor out??

Please if you don't mind please keep up with the wright ups. I'll be the first to say I'm green behind the ears (very) It also seems that there is a bit mistery of home, and also a bit more work involved than what I thought (haven't heard that one before )

Well there's why there's all that bracing. 2 X 6's would only be used on something like a 4' wide porch not as house floor joist.
A real floor joist would be concided under sized if it was a 2 X 8.

I think I'm confuzed and upsetting you all with what I'm asking, and with my lack of terms.

floor joist is what the floor is nailed into
a beam is what holds up the floor joists
a colum is what holds up the beam

Right?

If so the beams are 4x6 joists are 2x6

not sure if it makes any difference Joe but he did say that the house was built in 1934, could have been a "true" 2x6 and douglas fir/hem fir or yellow pine and possibly span longer than todays conventional lumber. Todays 2x6 (1-1/2x5-1/2) typically only spans 8' for a floor. Honestly couldn't tell you what a "true" 2x could span or if there is really any difference. Was just throwing it out there. But you're right, a 2x6 spanning 12' is the reason there are so many beams.

Also may see if there are splices over top of the beams.

well really for what its worth, I know I need the braces, I just need to know now over a distance per say how many colums I need. Lets say I have a 26 foot beam, does it need a colum every 6 feet to brace it or could it be like every 10 feet or so? I don't have anything odd in my living room or in my house. Nothing like a weight bench or anything of that sort.

I have 4x6 beams (if I recall correctly) and there is a colum every 6 feet, but I think I may just get an I beam to replace the wood as they need less colums anyhow.