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Beefing up load bearing beam to compensate for butt jointsFrom: solomyngrundy@hotmail.com
Category: Structural
Remote Name: 69.165.101.140
Date: 01 May 2005
Time: 11:34 AM
CommentsMy house has a central beam consisting of 3 2x12, supporting the upstairs flooring system of 2x8s. In the construction of the beam, the carpenters butt-jointed the 2 exterior 2x12 in the same place, necessitating the use of a post under the seam.
What I would like to do is remove the post. The current span is 16 feet. What I have been told (by a carpenter/contractor with over 50 years experience) was that if I glue and nail long strips of 1/2” (5 ply) plywood (12 inches by 8 feet) to the beam (using industrial strength liquid nails), then nail 1 16' 2x12 on each side (crown side up, of course), and lagged this together in a V formation up and down the beam (1 lag under each joice, followed by the next lag at the bottom of the beam) and installed 2 posts (Tiger brand pro series 20,000 – 38,000 lb. rated) on either side of this (which will eventually be buried in a wall), thus cutting the span down to 11 1/2 feet, that this would be more than enough structural integrity to allow the removal of the center post. Is this true? Is there anything that we have missed? Oh, and I did run a string under the beam to make sure that it was level before doing this (I found that the beam was jacked about ¾” too high at the center post).
Please advise.
Kyle
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