Expert: Dan Griffin - 9/1/2009

Question
Hi Dan,

Have a question on a 7 year old home.
The support beam in the basement is two 2 X 8's laid flat and supported by four of the same standing on end slid under for posts.

This is a 36 X 30 span that it holds up.


Is this something I should be concerned about?

Please advise.

Thanks
Dave

Answer
Dave, I too, would be highly concerned.  I'm guessing your floor joists are 16' and the beam is about 36' long.  If I've diagnosed correctly you have a 6x8 column holding up a 3" deep beam with a column about every 7 feet.  I've not ever encountered this condition, but I doubt that it would meet any inspection standards.  Each column should bear on its own footing, not the basement floor; the footings may be under the floor, but this would not be normal.

Normal would have the beam tripled on edge without nearly so many columns.  That being said, if the home is 7 years old I would think you would see a measurable sag between columns if there were a problem.  If you decide to pursue this further, contact a structural engineer to detail the requirements to make a change.