Supporting Ridge Beam Post with LVL

beamstructural

I want to open this span (about 12') and planning to purchase 2 x 10" LVL's which will sit beneath the double top plate that is already there (so our beam will be 12.5" tall x 3.5" thick). There is only roof above (no floor) and it pitches away from the camera in the kitchen. The garage is below and a beam runs parallel to this wall.

I'm wondering about the ridge beam and specifically the double 2×4 post in the wall directly below. I would like to remove that and have my new beam sit on a post about 12" to the right of where that one is. Wanted to get others thoughts on this approach and see if there were concerns about not having a post directly below the ridge beam.

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Best Answer

I think you need a structural engineer to sign off your designs before you start cutting structural timbers. However:

There is no problem in principle in running a suitably sized blue beam to the right of the current post. What you may need, is a post running from the blue beam directly up to the ridge. This would leave you the completely open space at floor level, but would be visible in the open space above the beam.

Does the existing post run all the way to the roof? If not, you won't need one in the new scheme. If it does, you will.

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