Interior Wood Column - Load Bearing or Not?
#1
01-09-13, 09:28 AM
[Solved] Interior Wood Column - Load Bearing or Not?
I hope this is the right section to ask this. I have two columns that sit on either end of my kitchen to differentiate it from the family room. These are wooden columns that are not floor to ceiling but maybe halfway and they sit on these rectangular forms that act as room dividers. I drilled a small hole through one column and it is completely hollow. Also, on the floors above and below this area, there are no columns or walls. Can i be confident that these are purely decorative and knock em out? Should I post a picture? Thanks in advance.
Last edited by yoghurts; 01-09-13 at 10:48 AM.
#2
01-09-13, 09:31 AM
Welcome to the forums!
They are probably just decorative. Pics would be nice - http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...-pictures.html
They are probably just decorative. Pics would be nice - http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...-pictures.html
#3
01-09-13, 10:05 AM
Group Moderator
So there is space above them? Not sure I understand what you're saying here:
The pictures will likely answer my question.
not floor to ceiling but maybe halfway and they sit on these rectangular forms
#4
01-09-13, 10:34 AM
pictures
Here you go. This will be much better than my description. Here you can see the bottom of the column sitting on a 'box', the view of both from the family room, and how it attaches to the ceiling. Sorry, the first and last pictures are rotated. I'm thinking that removing these will open up the space.
#5
01-09-13, 10:36 AM
Group Moderator
OK, that makes more sense, thanks for the pictures.
The fact they're hollow and that there's no structure above or below on other floors leads me to believe they're not weight bearing.
The fact they're hollow and that there's no structure above or below on other floors leads me to believe they're not weight bearing.
#7
01-09-13, 01:25 PM
Upon closer inspection, there appears to be wall on the floor above the columns but definitely nothing on the floor below. I am still ok? Finally, how would go about removing these to minimize collateral damage? Should I cut the columns with a saw? Try to smash them? Thanks again. I am new to this stuff.
#8
01-09-13, 02:36 PM
Don't smash them - that will cause you more work 
Cut them with a saw and they should come out fairly easy. At the top you want to take a utility knife and cut the caulking to minimize the damage to the ceiling.
Cut them with a saw and they should come out fairly easy. At the top you want to take a utility knife and cut the caulking to minimize the damage to the ceiling.
#9
01-09-13, 03:07 PM
Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Canada
Posts: 298
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
Upon closer inspection, there appears to be wall on the floor above the columns but definitely nothing on the floor below. I am still ok?
Though there is no wall below.....is there a beam below them in the basement?
.
#10
01-09-13, 08:41 PM
The fact they're hollow... leads me to believe they're not weight bearing.
#11
01-09-13, 11:51 PM
I have a finished basement, how will I know if there is a beam? Do I need to make a hole in the basement's ceiling? There is one metal post in the basement which is covered with a faux column but it is in a completely different place then the ones pictured above. What if I made a hole in the box right under the column to see if it is empty? Would that tell me more? Anything else I can do determine whether these are structural? I might have to bite the bullet and call somebody...
#12
01-10-13, 03:52 AM
In your finished basement, what is the longest unsupported span width wise? Do you have any column posts in the basement? If the room is wider than say 12' and you have no column posts, then you have a beam. However, this is not definitive. I would have a structural engineer over to take a look at it to determine your possibilities. Well spent $250 or so. It's called peace of mind.
#13
01-10-13, 04:52 AM
Group Moderator
One thing you could do is take a stud finder and go around the columns to identify where the joists are. (stay 1 ft away so that you don't mistake blocking for joists) Put a piece of tape everywhere you find solid wood, and when you're done you will have a pretty good idea of what lies where.
Checking the basement ceiling to identify the load path might be similar. Beams will be doubled joists, at a minimum, so the stud finder would show them as 3" wide. Joists are always perpendicular to beams. Iron beams are often 5 to 8" wide and will often cause the stud finder to blink.
Checking the basement ceiling to identify the load path might be similar. Beams will be doubled joists, at a minimum, so the stud finder would show them as 3" wide. Joists are always perpendicular to beams. Iron beams are often 5 to 8" wide and will often cause the stud finder to blink.
#14
01-10-13, 06:06 AM
Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Canada
Posts: 298
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
.
As Xsleeper described.....check the ceiling near the top of the posts with a good stud finder. Scan the area directly between the posts.....if you find anything wider than 1-1/2" .....it may indicate a beam.
Also.....is the ceiling in the basement flat?....or are there varying levels with bulkheads? The bulkheads could be covering duct work as well as a beam. A negative reading with a stud finder on the basement ceiling won't necessarily prove or confirm anything.
.
As Xsleeper described.....check the ceiling near the top of the posts with a good stud finder. Scan the area directly between the posts.....if you find anything wider than 1-1/2" .....it may indicate a beam.
Also.....is the ceiling in the basement flat?....or are there varying levels with bulkheads? The bulkheads could be covering duct work as well as a beam. A negative reading with a stud finder on the basement ceiling won't necessarily prove or confirm anything.
.
