Expert: Dave Johnson - 7/23/2007

Question
I have a two story residential house. The roof was stick built (no trusses). I have a first floor baring wall made of 2x4 @ 16"oc that I would like to remove to open up the front and back rooms. The front room is 12' wide and the rear room is 16' wide. The joists are 2x10 @ 16"oc and cross over and sit on top of the first floor baring wall.The span would be approximately 18'3-1/2". There is currently a full concrete foundation under this wall. The wall extends straight up through the second floor and there are roof 2x4 braces that angle down and sit on top of this wall in the attic (ie: this wall also supports some of the roof). The roof joists are 2x10 @24"oc, but I don't know off hand if the braces are at every joist.
Of course I would like to keep any beam as small as possible.
Ideas?
Thanks!

Answer
Hi Jim,
This would require a "glue-lam" beam (or microlam)
and should be 6" x 14" and well supported on either end. I'm sure you aren't into the idea of that much loss of headroom.
There is another way to approach this, but its a bit more involved: Support both ceilings on either side of your bearing wall, remove wall, open ceiling, cut joists to accept beam, add joist hangers at each joist, and repair
ceiling. (you are essentially burying the beam) and most of it will be hidden.
I hope this helps, and if you need any more info, mail me.....
Good luck, Dave