Beam without pillars.

[Threepeo]

What are the options if one wants to remove a load-bearing interior wall and additionally wishes to have a passage where this load-bearing wall starts and ends? Can a load distribution be shifted laterally?

I made a small sketch of the walls we wish to remove, planned extension in gray.

I understand this becomes quite complex since currently there is a door on either side of the load-bearing interior wall and we wish to replace this with a single opening in the middle, which means any potential load distribution must essentially occur with a frame around the opening?

At the other end, we wish to remove the entire wall towards the extension, and either let the load distribution continue into the extension to avoid having a pillar, or possibly relieve it into the current gable wall to avoid having a pillar or anything else?

 

[Aron Roger]

As you say, instead of using columns directly at the ends of the transfer beam, you can use a transfer in the other direction, an ok. However, the type of foundation you have on your house makes it a bit problematic as in that case you will get loads outside the foundation beams. And even if you use a more traditional transfer with columns/beams, the foundation beams need to be checked to ensure they can handle the concentrated load this entails.

 

[Threepeo]

As you say, instead of using columns directly at the ends of the transfer beam, one can use a transfer in the other direction, a yoke. However, the type of foundation you have on your house makes it a bit problematic as you will get loads outside the foundation beams. And even if you use a more traditional transfer with columns/beam, the foundation beams need to be checked to ensure they can handle the concentrated load this entails.

As you say, instead of using columns directly at the ends of the transfer beam, one can use a transfer in the other direction, a yoke. However, the type of foundation you have on your house makes it a bit problematic as you will get loads outside the foundation beams. And even if you use a more traditional transfer with columns/beam, the foundation beams need to be checked to ensure they can handle the concentrated load this entails.

Yes, I suppose one can distribute the pressure partially by adding posts in the foundation? Or reinforce it in another way if needed.

 

[BirgitS]

Considering that you write about letting the transition continue into the extension, it is the case that the longer the beam, the taller it must be.

What you want to do is very complicated, and you really need a knowledgeable structural engineer to solve it.

 

[Threepeo]

Considering you write about allowing the beam extension to continue into the extension, the longer the beam, the higher it must be.

What you want to do is very complicated, and you really need a knowledgeable structural engineer to solve it.

Yes, I'm fully aware of that, it's quite different from a traditional beam extension. However, we believe that the house would benefit significantly from being completely opened up, so we need to thoroughly investigate it. We are also fully set on using steel beams. A visible beam isn't much of a problem either, as long as we can keep all passages free from columns. Any tips on a structural engineer who would be capable of solving this?

 

[Aron Roger]

Yes, I assume you can partially distribute the pressure by adding plinths in the foundation? Or reinforce it in another way if needed.

Absolutely, it can be solved with new plinths as you mentioned.

 

[Aron Roger]

Yes, I'm completely set on that, it falls quite far outside a traditional beam support. However, we believe that the house would benefit so much from being completely opened up that we have to investigate it thoroughly. We're also entirely set on needing steel beams. A visible beam is not a major issue either. As long as we can keep all passages free from columns. Any tips on a construction engineer who would be capable of solving it?

It's not a "completely ordinary" beam support, but it's also not super advanced for a reasonably experienced engineer, so it should be resolved. If I had to guess, it will come down to how much beam depth you can accept versus columns. Simply what is least disruptive.