We’re in the planning phase of our basement finishing project and I’m having problems coming up with a floor plan due to the placement of a lally column. I’d like to enclose it in a wall because I believe that if I don’t, it’s the kind of thing that constantly remionds you that you’re in a basement. Because of the necessary wall placement, I either end up with small rooms or a long skinny room. The question is, can I move or remove it? Of course I’ll do nothing without consulting an engineer, but I thought I’d ask the members of this forum for their opinions.

Specifics: The column I’m having the problem with supports the middle of a 21 foot steel I-beam (8”h x 5”v). (Other columns are on the side of the stairs and easily enclosable.) The beams run the length of the house and support 3x8 floor joists that span 13’ to each side. The house was built in ’41 and has a slate roof, if that creates a load that needs additional support. The blueprints show a footing under the column that makes me think that if I move it, I’d probably have to reinforce the cement floor underneath the new location.

A couple of people I’ve described this to were surprised to hear that I’m supporting a steel I-beam. They thought that to avoid the column I’d have to install a beam. They thought it odd to have the beam AND the column.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance,

Joel
Bayside, NY

 

Oops, I just tread the repy to the other thread today entitles "I-beam supports". I guess I'll just have to plan around it!

Sorry 'bout that!

Joel

 

That's certainly the easiest, but if it's important to you it may be possible to change. Yes you would have to break up slab and pour footings. But potentially you could put two columns 5' from either wall and get 10' clear in the middle. That may open up new floor plan possibilities, but it may be worse.

Again though, consult an engineer.

I don't know what you'd support with a column other than a beam. A 8" beam isn't very big though, which I suspect is why you have to have the column. My basement has a much heavier beam and spans 22' but then again instead of a column in the middle of the room you've got a big ol' beam. I put a wall under it--but still had to box it on one side. Big beam.

 

If its any consolation, my last house had a steel I-beam and it was built in 1994. Like yours, the support columns were strategically located in the middle of the room. I didn't finish my basement, but I recall my neighbors either boxed them in or wrapped them with some type of rope. I never saw the rope, but I guess it was an economical way of covering them.
good luck.
-jasper

 

Hi... Having framed homes for several years it is not uncommon to have columns under steel beams (in fact it is code). And again your plans showed correctly that there is a concrete pad under your cement floor for additional load bearing. Some possibilties are as you hinted at .. moving the column, probably upon the advice of an engineer you could add a column to either side to take up the load and hide them in the walls. The other option again going through an engineer is to use a laminated beam which is designed to take a greater load bearing thus using fewer columns. Other cheaper options is to design the basement to incorporate the column,,,, once I built a bar to incorporate the beam or one could incorporate it into an entertainment centre, be creative...

cheers

 

Joel,

The suggestions mentioned are good ones. Bes to take pencil and paer and start playing with some designs. There is always a way to make things better than you think they are or could be. It just takes some time to figure it all out. Pole wraps are available, box in the pole, incorporate it with cabinetry, make decorative columns spaced apart to act as an entry, make half walls with the pole covered to allow for more open look. Just some ideas.

Trying to relocate can be a problem but an engineer should be called in to assess this idea.

Good Luck!

 

My basement has a column that has been encased in brick to make it look more appealing. The wall along the staircase coming down into the basement also has been bricked over.
I'm not sure which owner before me did it, but it looks pretty nice...much better than a plain steel column.
Just another idea to consider.

 

Use your creativity and use it as a means of adding character to the room.

I mounted a Nerf basketball hoop on mine. With the big screen and laminate looks good.