Questionable Load Bearing Wall and how to properly support it
#1
04-15-14, 08:26 AM
Join Date: Apr 2014
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Questionable Load Bearing Wall and how to properly support it
We've owned this 1930's Spanish Revival in FL for 3+ years. Slowly renovating the house, taking it back to it's original look and feel. In the 70's the owners added the back half of the house on, enclosing the kitchen and small patio(pier and beam) and laying a slab with an additional 2000sf or so of space (dining room in left of photos new also).
My question is, the kitchen was very small and poorly designed so we've spent a lot of time trying to make the best of the space and extend it into the old patio which is now inside the middle of the house. The second story is only over the front half of the house(about halfway over the kitchen). We cut away a post that was a medley of 4-5 2x4's all nailed together as the house was extended. The bottom of the post (once drywall was removed) was literally hanging over the floor by about 1/2". No support whatsoever. (See center of photos)
The space is just over 12'. We want this space to remain open and are trying to decide if 2 2x8 or 2x10 with 1/2" plywood between them would be suitable. Originally my boyfriend wanted to put up 2 2x6 and call it a day but after a few people looked at it that had been in construction I was a little concerned the wall was still load bearing and over time we're looking at a potential problem. The new walk-thru will be directly under this post area and we can't adjust the plan later to put a post in the middle of the space.
Ultimately we will be contacting professionals but the post is gone now and I am hoping as it sits we aren't looking at any major problems. It's been like this for two weeks or so, without any substantial movement in the drywall or beams. The post in the foreground of the photo is not being removed.
My question is, the kitchen was very small and poorly designed so we've spent a lot of time trying to make the best of the space and extend it into the old patio which is now inside the middle of the house. The second story is only over the front half of the house(about halfway over the kitchen). We cut away a post that was a medley of 4-5 2x4's all nailed together as the house was extended. The bottom of the post (once drywall was removed) was literally hanging over the floor by about 1/2". No support whatsoever. (See center of photos)
The space is just over 12'. We want this space to remain open and are trying to decide if 2 2x8 or 2x10 with 1/2" plywood between them would be suitable. Originally my boyfriend wanted to put up 2 2x6 and call it a day but after a few people looked at it that had been in construction I was a little concerned the wall was still load bearing and over time we're looking at a potential problem. The new walk-thru will be directly under this post area and we can't adjust the plan later to put a post in the middle of the space.
Ultimately we will be contacting professionals but the post is gone now and I am hoping as it sits we aren't looking at any major problems. It's been like this for two weeks or so, without any substantial movement in the drywall or beams. The post in the foreground of the photo is not being removed.
#2
04-15-14, 09:54 AM
Welcome to the forums. When posting pictures made with a phone you must rotate the images using software not just by turning the phone. Also use Insert not Attach to avoid the gray box. http://www.doityourself.com/forum/li...-pictures.html I'll let the pros answer your questions.
