I am refinishing a basement and have come across a built up beam made up of three 2×8 (true 2×7) boards. The entire span is 22 feet but it is composed of 2 11-ft beams resting on a 6×6 support post in the middle, so each beam spans just over 11 feet and is carrying the floor joists that span 15 feet to either wall. One of the beams has an additional support post about 4 feet from one end. The other seems to have flexed about an inch in the middle. I would like to remove the additional post on the one beam but I am concerned about the strength of the beams. Anyone know what the load capacity of 3 2x8s is…or how to find out? I am not sure what the type of wood is but I would guess it is Douglas Fir as that is generally the case out here in the Northwest. The house was built in 1950.
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Replies
I'll be the first to say it - ask an engineer -
but I'll give you the answer you seek -
the additional post was not installed because that person had nothing else to do that day -
so - instead of asking your engineer about the load carrying capacity of a tripled 2X7 beam that observation reveals to be inadequate to your circumstance, ask him to design a solution to your post in the way and sagging beam -
wadswob.
Short answer, No!
Read Davids answer for a more complete one..
what david and frenchy said.
Oh, and the likely reason for the extra post is either
1. It was added later because that side was sagging.
2. If it is part of the origonal, most likely there is a point load in that location. (extra weight from above carrying thru a post or wall down to that location)
If it were me and I didn't want to get involved with engineers and a lot of money.............I'd come in half way on either side of the 6x6 and add an adjust-a-post under the beam........on top of a proper footer.
shoulda probably been a triple 2x12 beam to begin with......but to change over now would be my last choice.....and to take out the post for some cosmetic affect would be dumb.