Homeowner Forum / Construction / March 2005

No one can answer your question.  You've omitted crucial information
and no one knows the conditions.  I can answer parts of it.  Would the
ends need to be reinforced - yes.  Could you reinforce with LVLS -
probably.

Minor questions on newsgroups get batted back and forth.  This isn't a
minor question.  Do yourself the favor and get a professional to
eyeball the situation and design something for you.

R

If its a cheap house and you are short on cash you could
probably get away with an 18" wide x 8" deep  block column as
additional support on the block wall end. then fill it with
rebar and motar bring the sides up around your beefed up beam.

You dont call out the span... thats crucial. your drawing
though if its anything close to scale shows a very short span.
How far away are the other beams?..

Myself I would use heavy framing nails to nail 1 or two
courses of 3/4" plywood to each side of the beam and maybe an
inch or two deeper, a full 12 or 13" and stagger the laps as
much as possible toward the ends not near the middle.

that would *probably work out just fine.. probably is a risky
word in this business.

What else is going on with the foundation etc..where are the
sheer walls, how is the existing block secured to the existing
foundation.   are there signs of foundation or wall cracking?
Is the roof sagging etc   How risky is it..probably not overly
risky but its hard to say from here.

Phil Scott

The easiest way is to hire an engineer. it will not cost much to hire
one. it wouldn't take much time to spec it out.

you could build temporary walls on each side of the current 3ply 2x12s
and then replace the 2x12s  with lvl's. you would need plates to hold
the lvls and these would have to be fabricated. the engineer will spec
out where to cut the 2x12s and the specs for the plates.

Rico's suggestion to get an engineer is a good one.

But I'll give you some more advice, that's worth what you're paying for it:
Get more detail in your sketch - what does the upstairs wall look like?
Doors/openings?   framed with wood 2x4's 16", or something else?   show a
cross-section the other way - describe the joists that run across the beam -
size, spacing, spans...  take a lot of photos.   Then show it to a pro.

A 12' span is do-able, perhaps even without professional advice.   Based on
the limited data you've offered, I'd consider bolting a couple 12' x 11" x
1/2" steel plates to the beam, one on either side.  Do some calculations to
estimate the loads, and evaluate whether the remaining block and post can
handle the increased load (maybe a 50% increase on each - my guess, assuming
its a well-built home, is that you'll be fine).

Good luck, and be careful!
Sal's Dad