Looking for some engineering advice. I've been lurking around the forums for a while and would like to start planning for a dedicated home theater. I have a room that is 21' x 14' x 8'. There is one small problem with the room:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2241/2199678366_3251e75341.jpg

As you can see I have a support column smack in the middle of the room. Here is a photo showing how the floor joists connect to the 3 2x12's that this column (6x6) support.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2136/2198887565_31f8f92339.jpg

The 3 2x12's only span the width of the room. Here is a wider shot of the room (please excuse the mess).

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2211/2199677532_e150036f2c.jpg

So my question is, does it look possible to remove this column and put some type of steel support beam underneath the 3 2x12s with supporting columns on both sides? If I was to go this route, I would hire an engineer to work out the details. But I wanted to see if anyone in the forum perhaps had seen this before and could give some advice before I went through the trouble of finding and hiring an engineer.

Thanks!

People have removed columns before.

I would move forward with getting an engineer to develop a solution.

If it was me, I will hire a professional to check it. I won't do it DIY :)

I tried to shift some support columns around in my basement. It turned out to be a pain. I posted the whole saga in my thread along with a bunch of input I got from various board members. Short answer it can be done, but you need at least an engineer and depending on the study, you may need to hire some help.

Definitely no plans to do DIY!! A theater is only useful if the roof above it stays intact!

I was just wondering if anyone had seen this type of column removed before. Most installations I've seen are the type where the floor joists sit on top of the support beam. That's a much simpler fix. This type, with the joists attached to the beam make it a lot more complicated (I think).

Is this a basement? I ask because I see CMU walls and plumbing waste lines, but it looks like plywood on the floor.

Assuming it’s basement (or ground level), moving the column is likely possible. You will need new footings under any new column locations. You’re correct to hire a structural engineer to look at this project and do the design and provide some details. That won’t be cheap, nor will the installation if you hire it. Even if you mostly DIY, there is still a fair amount of expense involved. Not trying to talk you out of it, just pointing some things out.

Thanks kbp. Sorry, should have included those details.

Yes, it's a basement. The waste lines lead out of the basement to the septic system. The previous owners put down plywood in some sections of the basement, I assume they were planning on finishing it which obviously never was completed. You can also see two closets at the back of the room which will be removed before I start on the theater.

If I end up going this route I would probably handle the new footings, but leave the rest up to professionals. I assume there would be some jacking up of the structure while the new support(s) were put in...not something I would want to attempt myself.

We had something similar done on the main floor when a loadbearing wall was removed.

To remove or even relocate the column entirely will likely involve temporary walls to support the joist ends, removal of the column and beam structure, and insertion of a structural steel or LVL/engineered lumber replacement beam, to which the original joists will be reattached using similar hangers.

In our case, steel-to-lumber joist hangers were used in a similar configuration to your photos so that the new beam could be sunk into the ceiling rather than protruding beneath the joists, leaving no evidence that there was ever a loadbearing wall there.

Engineering expertise and permits are a must, of course.

It looks like this could be done with no problem. I am really not sure why they went about doing it this way maybe it was cheaper then using a steel beam or a laminated wood beam. I believe if a steel beam of the right size was placed under that triple sistered beam you would be good to go. Contacting a structural engineer to give you the specs on the size beam you would need for the span would be wise. Only problem with adding the beam is now you have it hanging down into your space :( but better then a pole in the middle of your room

Snowkarvers method is the preferred way but would probably triple the cost of removing this one support pole


My house has one 12 x 8 43' steel beam the runs the length of my basement with 1 pole in the middle. all of the 2x10 floor joists go from foundation to beam and span is 12'. its the same on the other side of my basement but beam is only 26' long with the pole in the same potion as the other

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa192/W00lly/HTRoom9.jpg

snowkarver, thank you very much for the info!

I was actually curious if something like that would be possible since, as you noted, adding another beam beneath would compromise my headroom. I guess the only issue with this route is the expense involved.

woolly,

It was most likely done this way because it is a Lindal Ceadar home. They provide all the materials for construction and I believe they want to stay with the wood theme and not have any metal support in the house. You can see more examples of it in this picture:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/71/199131177_17b7eef25b.jpg

I love the wood in the house, it's one of the reasons I bought it. However, instead of a single steel support beam, I have more columns in the basement than I care to count. So far I have been able to work around all of them except this one.

One more thing...love your theater thread! It is one of the threads I've been keeping up on while researching for my build.

Woolly is totally right too. A steel beam to support the existing triple one would probably be a structurally sound solution.

I also notice a lot of ductwork handing under the joists. I guess it really becomes a question of how much headroom you have/want, and how much you want to spend (lowering the ceiling to accomodate structural framing and HVAC versus burying everything into the joists).

I should be able to either move or bury in the joists all of the A/C ducting except one. Still working on a solution for that as well. I'm trying to keep as much head room as possible for a riser and soffits.

Well I hope you find a solution that does not break the bank