FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

Load bearing wall off-center

| Posted in Construction Techniques on January 22, 2002 06:10am

*
Have started remodeling the first floor of c.1825 federal-style brick home we just purchased. Found that on one of the main beams in the home (beam size is 8″x8″, span is 20′) that the first floor wall supporting it was not built on beam center but is off-center by approx. 6″ so that the wall is actually supporting the 2nd floor joists directly and not the beam. One end of the beam in question is supported by an exterior wall, the other end is mortised into another beam running perpendicular to this one and a 2×4 support wall underneath. Should this off-center wall be “corrected” as part of our remodel since everything is opened up? Is it anything to worry about? Also, the beam sags almost 3″ in middle of span. Would like to jack it up and get it (and 2nd flr) closer to level. Any do’s or dont’s would be welcomed.
Thanks in advance.

Reply
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Replies

  1. Mike_Smith | Jan 16, 2002 02:00am | #1

    *
    some scale section drawings would help make this clearer than mud...

    1. George_Roberts | Jan 16, 2002 03:00am | #2

      *If you are doing a remodel, you will need to replace the beam - it is not to code.I suggest that you hire a local engineer to look at the situation.

      1. Andy_Engel_ | Jan 16, 2002 05:12pm | #3

        *Isn't the residential rule of thumb that a bearing wall supporting one floor can be offset from the beam below by the depth of the joists? So, for example, the wall on a 2x10-joisted floor could miss the beam by as much as 9 1/4 in.? I think that you could call the beam undersized, but you could also call it overspanned. Seems to me that slowly (I'm talking months) raising it with a couple of railroad jacks and eventually supporting it on two lally columns on new footings in the basement would handle the situation in most simple houses. Presumably, you're talking about a 2-story house that's say, between 20 and 30 ft. wide, and where the beam runs the center of the house's length. The 20 ft. span would become three 6 ft. 8 in. spans, which seems reasonable for an 8x8 that's been proven to handle a 20 ft. span, albeit with some sagging. Getting an engineer's view is probably sound advice, but the situation is really pretty simple. Andy

        1. DChilds | Jan 16, 2002 05:43pm | #4

          *Hiring an engineer sounds like the way to go. I did attach a drawing in MS Word format that gives a rough idea of the layout that I referred to in my first muddy mesage, just in case you wanted to look at it. Interestingly, the 1st fl joists in the basement have almost no sag. Most of it is in the beam I referred to on the 2nd fl. The support wall that is off-center beneath it is not the original wall, it was put there at a later point in time. The house is 30'wx40'l. Thanks.

          1. Boss_Hog | Jan 16, 2002 09:34pm | #5

            *Andy, I wish no one had ever heard of that rule. They assume it will work for everything, including I-joists and floor trusses. But the rule of thumb doesn't take into account how much load is applied from above, the species of the wood, or the spacing of the joists.

          2. Andy_Engel_ | Jan 16, 2002 11:09pm | #6

            *That's true - I tend to build simply - usually 2 story, 28 ft. wide, 16 in. OC, #2 or better D-fir joists. I've been told by building inspectors that that rule of thumb is fine. Andy

          3. Rd | Jan 21, 2002 04:23am | #7

            *The rule of thumb is base upon a 45 degree load path. Similar to brick above a lintel or soil bearing pressure.RD

          4. The_Tennis_Court_Builder_...on_t | Jan 21, 2002 05:22pm | #8

            *D....You want to hire an engineer and you have our permission...So why did you ask us about it?Andy has it down and others have explained the 45 degree load path thing. I'll add this...Many designs have indirect load paths. They are not the best designs and do fail or bend. In your home I would do what Andy said over time.I worked on a home that had 2' overhangs all around and after 30 years the sag was 1-2" in that 2'. I would never build that way with that high a sustained load...I do build decks that cantolever out...but the sustained loads are so much less than the design loads that it works well...along with slope not mattering anyway.near the stream,aj

          5. DChilds | Jan 21, 2002 06:31pm | #9

            *AJ, Guess I was looking for some direction from experienced folks like yourself on the best way to proceed before doing anything about the sagging problem. Truth is, hiring an engineer +/or contractor at this point in the project wasn't in the budget. I thought there might be a simple, low cost solution to the problem that I could handle myself, but maybe thats not in my, or the home's, best long term interests. This is my first big project, so I'll probably have lots of rookie questions. Thanks to all who responded.

          6. Mike_Smith | Jan 21, 2002 06:38pm | #10

            *dc.. a picture is worth a thousand words... especially if you are asking a question about your house

          7. Boss_Hog | Jan 21, 2002 09:21pm | #11

            *> The rule of thumb is base upon a 45 degree load path.I realize that, Rd. But rules of thumb don't work in every situation. Other things need to be taken into consideration, as I said before.

          8. The_Tennis_Court_Builder_...on_t | Jan 22, 2002 06:10am | #12

            *DC...Leave the wall where it is. Add support under the beam as Andy outlined. If A guy like me went to your home to see the project, we could tell very quickly whether we would want engineers brought in...So find some locals help to look at your situation if you don't trust yourself.near the stream,aj

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Video Shorts

Categories

  • Business
  • Code Questions
  • Construction Techniques
  • Energy, Heating & Insulation
  • General Discussion
  • Help/Work Wanted
  • Photo Gallery
  • Reader Classified
  • Tools for Home Building

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

A Classic Paint Sprayer Gets a Thoughtful Refresh

The Titan Impact X 440 offers great coverage with minimal overspray.

Featured Video

A Modern California Home Wrapped in Rockwool Insulation for Energy Efficiency and Fire Resistance

The designer and builder of the 2018 Fine Homebuilding House detail why they chose mineral-wool batts and high-density boards for all of their insulation needs.

Related Stories

  • Podcast Episode 693: Old-House Hazards, Building Larsen Trusses, AI in Construction
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Finding Hazardous Materials in a Fixer-Upper
  • A Classic Paint Sprayer Gets a Thoughtful Refresh
  • Podcast Episode 692: Introduction to Trade Work, Embodied Carbon, and Envelope Improvements

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 332 - July 2025
    • Custom Built-ins With Job-Site Tools
    • Fight House Fires Through Design
    • Making the Move to Multifamily
  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2025
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

Enjoy unlimited access to Fine Homebuilding. Join Now

Already a member? Log in

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data