Opening up Kitchen - need to replace support structure
Our two kitchen beams span about twenty feet and each are supported by a post. Does anyone know how to eliminate the need for these posts? What alternate kind of beam support is possible that does away with the view blocking posts?
You don't need (and should not use) any advise from this chat forum about how to remove supporting columns. What you need, and may get from this chat forum, is a referal to an architect or civil engineer who can help you.
Removing load bearing walls and/or support columns requires direct examination of the problem by qualified professionals.
Thanks for your reply Tod. Sounds like you're the Chatterbox monitor. Now I'd appreciate hearing from others who've had some direct experience.
Those posts are holding up the roof. The spans on Eichlers' beams are not 'over engineered'. Don't be put off by the tone of Tod's post. That is simply the reaction of someone who knows. When Dura-Foam's staff engineer, Jarom Feriante (my son) sees this tomorrow - his eyes will get really wide and he'll say that you're crazy. That's why he didn't go into Diplomacy and had to settle for his Masters in Construction Engineering from Stanford.
talk to an engineer who understand post and beam
I think you will be wasting an engineer's and your time. I wanted to do the same thing when remodeling my Eichler more than a decade ago. Every option was out of the question for me. To the best of my recollection, the architect/engineer gave me the choice of bigger beams, additional beams or steel I-beams. All these choices were wildly expensive and hideously ugly. Like me, you will live with posts.
