posts in basement

I read in some of your other responses that you don't recomend removing support posts in the basement. I'm wondering I have posts every ten feet suporting a laminate beam. If I removed one and supported it with a 4'' I beam spaning 20 feet under the laminate beam do you recomend this at all? I have 9 foot floor to ceiling height. so I have pently of head room.

 

You must get an analysis and recommendation by a certified structural engineer. Anything less would be totally insane. This stuff is holding up your house!! A very slight mistake here could literally cause your house to collapse!

 

Harold, what John told you is absolutely correct. Those posts were placed at 10' intervals for a reason -- to properly support the beam they are under. If you go moving them, the beam will no longer have it's necessary support, and your house could very well end up in the basement!!

 

John & Lefty have raised some valid concerns.
Removing a post, and replacing the laminated beam with a steel beam is possible. In order to size a beam you need to determine the "TRIBUTARY" width of the floor joist. Measure, in the direction of the joists, from the beam to the wall or next supporting beam. Do the same on the other side. Add these distances, then divide by two. This is the tributary width. You willneed a span chart for steel beams to size the correct beam. I no longer have a chart, but a twenty foot span will need a hefty beam, maybe 10". The pads and posts under the new beam will also need reinforcing. As John mentioned, an engineer would be dollars well invested to determine these elements. Now, doing the work, you access your own capabilities. Get local building department approvals. If structural disaster strikes by improper material or non-compliance of building codes, your sunk. Bonne Chance!

 

Whether or not the beam is strong enough is only a small part of the question. By eliminating a post, you also put a lot more weight on neighboring posts, and on the footings those posts rest on. Once you put in the beam, it won't do much good if the other posts buckle or sink.

 

Couldn't agree more with John. The beam size is only half of the equation. The size of the posts supporting that beam, as well as their spacing, is just as important.