load bearing post in garage

We just purchased a new home where the masterbedroom is above the garage. The outside wall of the bedroom stops about halfway out above the garage. There is an 8*8 beam running along the ceiling of the garage, below the outer wall of the bedroom. The previous owner said the load bearing post in the garage was only put in because he had a water bed in the bedroom. He said it's not a problem to remove it. I am reluctant as it may actually be a load bearing post. The entrance to the house is 9'6" from the beam. The post is locted 9'1" from the east wall of the garage and 11'6" from the west wall. My question is can I move the post about 3' to the east? This would put it at the edge of the stairs going to the basement.
Thankyou for any help

 

Impossible to give you a good answer without more information. Especially true with a two story house.

Your best route is to have a professional take a look at it. Nothing beats being able to get a direct answer and look at the alternatives.

If it is actually non-bearing, maybe you can eliminate it altogether.

Dick

 

I would be a little leary about why the previous owner didn"t remove the post prior to selling the house, a post in the garage would raise questions when the house was being shown. You don"t say if the garage ceiling is drywalled, but if it is, removing that along the beam and where the beam enters each wall may help give a better idea if he was being honest.

 

garpp,

you did not give us the total span of the garage, if the joists continue wall to wall or stop on the beam, or the size of the joists. My guess is that with the loads you are describing, that beam with the post nearly centered needs to remain. The only way around this other than having it engineered, is to possibly add a post allowing you to split the span in thirds and allow you to move the post in the direction you want.

Like everyone else, I say get a local engineer who can see the situation better than us from afar and do it once, do it right.

Brian Garrison