Can living space be supported by steel posts?

It is legal to pour footings and use appropriately sized steel posts to support the addition on the 2nd floor only?


I'd like to extend the size of one of our bedrooms on the 2nd floor. It's on a sloping lot so it would be very expensive to build a new foundation and build a two story addition.I had a contractor say that the space underneath the addition would have be enclosed if it was for living space, but I don't know if he's right.

 

your answer is going to be very specific to the building codes in your area. While I have seen similar types of buildings in many areas (think Louisianna with the houses on stilts), each area has there own buildong codes and requirements.

Chances are you will need an engineer to certify the design as adequate for the requirements of your area if it is acceptable as a building design.

 

You will need to check with your local building code department. You will also need engineered drawings for them. I am pretty sure it will need to be enclosed underneath. That is a fire code requirement in most of the country.

 

palestine texas:http://www.22dollars.com/images/house_on_stilts.jpg

los feliz california:http://www.woodsontheweb.com/Bio/images/Los_Feliz_Modern_BImg.jpg

key largo florida:http://www.valuevacationrentals.com/images/property/prop5543_22659.jpg

guenreville cali:http://www.geog.utah.edu/~tc2512/classes/Image2.jpg

beverly hills cali:http://www.hollywoodusa.co.uk/images/Letalweaponhouse.jpg

fairhaven mass:http://www.oceansart.us/OceansArthome/PixBeaches/thumbnails/0208beaches26.jpg

somewhere is Louisianna:http://www.oxfamamerica.org/resources/photos/houseonstilts_Wilma.jpg/sidebar

stinson beach cali:http://www.seadriftrealty.com/images/on028/mainshot-sm.jpg

actually elevated houses are very common along shorelines, especially ocean front. IF it is legal would be dependant upon the building codes in your area. In flood plain areas, it is even a recommended method of building since it obviously saves the structure in times of flooding.

 

Yep, you see these types of homes all over the beach, where the open area underneath is used for parking. I don't think the pillars are steel though, but rather poured concrete pylons.