Thread: Support column footing

Home renovation.

Is a new footing required for column supporting two I beams (to be installed) both ends of the beams will be supported at each end on concrete block wall? The two ends (right angle to column) will be supported by the steel column directly placed on the exposed footing where a former concrete block wall was? It's unkown the width of the footing or depth. House is approximately 35 years old. Concrete block wall was removed to open up a room. One story bungalow.

Thank you.

Originally Posted by Raymond Wand

Home renovation.

Is a new footing required for column supporting two I beams (to be installed) both ends of the beams will be supported at each end on concrete block wall? The two ends (right angle to column) will be supported by the steel column directly placed on the exposed footing where a former concrete block wall was? It's unkown the width of the footing or depth. House is approximately 35 years old. Concrete block wall was removed to open up a room. One story bungalow.

Thank you.

Shouldn't take too long to drill a couple of test holes.

Originally Posted by Raymond Wand

Is a new footing required for column supporting ...

The columns are required to have a proper footing, yes.

The one near where the concrete block wall was *may* have a sufficient footing below it ... or it *may* not (if the concrete block wall was loading bearing, and if they installed a proper footing for that concrete block wall - a sufficient footing may be there, otherwise not).

Oh, don't forget that at least one nail is required at the top to make the column permanent ...

Thanks Vern and Jerry

Yes both walls were load bearing.

I don't thin I understand the question. You seem to indicate that both ends of both new I beams will be supported by block walls. How do they relate to the new column. It comes down to how much load will be on the column and how big is the footing. This assumes a column is needed.

Mark,

The column will be carrying both beams. An engineer will be calculating beam size, etc.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

Oh, don't forget that at least one nail is required at the top to make the column permanent ...

.......

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

Oh, don't forget that at least one nail is required at the top to make the column permanent ...

Does the size of the nail matter?

Originally Posted by Lon Henderson

Does the size of the nail matter?

Not if the nail is not driven in very far and bent over.

A nail is a nail is a nail, a rose is a rose is a rose ...

Those fancy roofing felt nails will work because they have that big washer on the head, so you don't have to bend the nail over. AND, you can pick the color of the washer as an accent.

Originally Posted by Jack Feldmann

Those fancy roofing felt nails will work because they have that big washer on the head, so you don't have to bend the nail over. AND, you can pick the color of the washer as an accent.

That's what we need around here a Sense of Fashion Flair.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

The columns are required to have a proper footing, yes.

The one near where the concrete block wall was *may* have a sufficient footing below it ... or it *may* not (if the concrete block wall was loading bearing, and if they installed a proper footing for that concrete block wall - a sufficient footing may be there, otherwise not).

This is where an engineer should be involved in my opinion.

A footing designed for a concrete block wall (s) may not be the same as a footing designed for a support column due to its concentrated load.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

The columns are required to have a proper footing, yes.

The one near where the concrete block wall was *may* have a sufficient footing below it ... or it *may* not (if the concrete block wall was loading bearing, and if they installed a proper footing for that concrete block wall - a sufficient footing may be there, otherwise not).

Originally Posted by Marcel Gratton

This is where an engineer should be involved in my opinion.

A footing designed for a concrete block wall (s) may not be the same as a footing designed for a support column due to its concentrated load.

That's why I highlighted the may, as in *may*.

It all depends on the footing, if any, which *may* (in this case *should*) have been installed under the block wall, and that such footing "where the concrete block wall was *may* have a sufficient footing below it". Depends on the loads the column has. The column would have a better chance of having a sufficient footing from where that concrete block wall was had the column been centered where the wall was ... presuming, of course, that the concrete block wall was laid up centered over its footing - for all we know, the footing under where that concrete block wall was *may* have actually been centered where the column is.

Lots of unknowns, thus the *may*.

If there is already an engineer involved designing the beams and columns, they should also be designing new or approving the existing footings.

that nasty crack in the block wall by the stairs. That's a "Oh, my" crack.

To put your client at ease, it's not a big deal technically to cut for column footings but prices add up quickly when demo'ing concrete, but a new footing you do need with column loads. I have had situations where the engineer will calc point loads using x feet of a prescriptive foundation but you would have to drill test holes and probably expose some of the existing footing for the benefit of the engineer and AHJ inspector.