I'm in the process of tearing out an old beam structure in a room in our early 1900s house and am making plans on how to rebuild it in the best way.
The floor is intended to end up at the same level as the original floor, though of course straight (previously sloped about 6 cm), which will be approximately at the height where the exterior walls transition from concrete to brick (solid walls). The current beams are set at about 70-80 cm center to center, about 110x220 mm, and are embedded in the exterior and partition walls, though they are not completely parallel with the other walls. There is also a supporting beam in the middle of the room (the room is approximately 5.5x4.5 meters).
As I see it, there are three options (a supporting beam will be placed in the middle regardless of the option):
1. Try to rebuild as it is now, about 70-80 cm center to center on the beams (screw-and-glue two 45x220) and try to embed these in the same way. Unfortunately, this will likely be troublesome and not straight (relative to the exterior walls), also more difficult with insulation and floor chipboard. However, I can supplement with beams in between to get 600 center to center to screw into, though these would have to be attached to noggings along the wall, which is not ideal for load-bearing capacity.
2. Secure new supporting beams to the walls and set all beams in joist hangers, but the uneven walls pose a problem, so they would need to be plastered or concrete filled for evenness. The supporting beam would then be fixed with anchor mortar and threaded rods. There is some concern for cracking with this option, though the wall is about 500 mm thick, so it should hold well.
3. Build a completely new foundation wall along the old one and set a new sill plate and rim joist, then attach everything to this. This option is probably the best but most time-consuming and reduces access to the older walls.
All opinions are welcome!
The floor is intended to end up at the same level as the original floor, though of course straight (previously sloped about 6 cm), which will be approximately at the height where the exterior walls transition from concrete to brick (solid walls). The current beams are set at about 70-80 cm center to center, about 110x220 mm, and are embedded in the exterior and partition walls, though they are not completely parallel with the other walls. There is also a supporting beam in the middle of the room (the room is approximately 5.5x4.5 meters).
As I see it, there are three options (a supporting beam will be placed in the middle regardless of the option):
1. Try to rebuild as it is now, about 70-80 cm center to center on the beams (screw-and-glue two 45x220) and try to embed these in the same way. Unfortunately, this will likely be troublesome and not straight (relative to the exterior walls), also more difficult with insulation and floor chipboard. However, I can supplement with beams in between to get 600 center to center to screw into, though these would have to be attached to noggings along the wall, which is not ideal for load-bearing capacity.
2. Secure new supporting beams to the walls and set all beams in joist hangers, but the uneven walls pose a problem, so they would need to be plastered or concrete filled for evenness. The supporting beam would then be fixed with anchor mortar and threaded rods. There is some concern for cracking with this option, though the wall is about 500 mm thick, so it should hold well.
3. Build a completely new foundation wall along the old one and set a new sill plate and rim joist, then attach everything to this. This option is probably the best but most time-consuming and reduces access to the older walls.
All opinions are welcome!
