Barn Support Beams

[barticus73]

I need to do something with the support beams for my old barn. Pic 1 is of the ouside of the barn so you can get an image of the style of this barn. Pic 2 & 3 show the base of the posts and how they are sitting on large rocks. Pic 4 shows how the posts connect to the main beam. And pic 5 gives a shot lengthwise across the whole span. These posts are the center posts for the barn. As you can see some of the posts are not sitting very well on the foundation rock. I am looking for ideas as to how to remedy this. Do I just dig down and pour concrete up to the posts? The posts themselves are around 8 x 8 or 10 x 10 and are in good condition. What do you guys think is the way to go here? There is no sag or anything but I want to get the posts on good footings before something bad happens. I have never done anything like this so I am open for any suggestions.

Thanks

 

[EddieWalker]

Allot is gonna depend on code for you location.

You will need to do the posts one at a time. You will need a very strong bottle jack. I use a 20 ton for residential homes, but you might want more for this. Put the jack on a solid footing and jack up the beam that the post is supporting.

Support the beam with another beam as strong or stronger than the one you are going to work on.

Do this on both sides of the post.

Remove the post.

Dig out the rock footing. Then dig out a hole large enough to support your load and meet code in your area. This is information you will have to come up with on your own for your area. For here, I'd want two feet by two feet minimum. I'd also want to bring it above grade 12 inches to support the post in a dry environment. Use some rebar in you form and attach straps to the rebar so you can tie into your posts.

Cut the post to fit the new footing and re-install.

Eddie

 

[schmism]

While edie's method works great it does have one significant limitation.

That is, because your doing each one individually you cant really correct for sagging and sinking of the building. (say one corner has sunk 6" and you want to fix it) then you have to worry about jacking a much larger portion of the building than just one post at a time.

granted theres nothing wrong with one at a time, but dont expect to correct much other than new post footings.

 

[barticus73]

There is no sagging. All I want to accomplish in new post footings.

 

[schmism]

then eddie's method is exactly how *I* would do it

 

[barticus73]

Ok, great guys. Now, what do these straps look like that you an attach to the rebar? I assume you need to go below the frost line as well, correct?

 

[Nomoregears]

Yes, you need to go below the frost line. since you are in a frost area, the base of the concrete pier should be larger than the top. This will prevent the frost from lifting your pier. Do me a favor, try a house jack before a bottle jack and disperse your load on the wood beam when lifting it (use a thick metal plate). The straps can be should be made of stainless to prevent corrosion. Good Luck .. Your barn looks to be in good shape.

 

[schmism]

check out the simpson products.
Simpson Strong-Tie | LCB/CB Column Base
there are about a million diffrent kinds.

known as post base or column base

The PB series are much ligher duity but only up to 6x6....

 

[Nat]

How long has the barn been like that? I thought it looked pretty good and am wondering why do anything at all. I have seen some old barns that have been standing for well over 100 years that didn't seem as solid. If you are sure you want to make the changes, the safest way is just like Eddie discribed. Instead of Simpson strong ties, a galvinized rod with an eye at the top to run a thru bold works well, just place the eye-bolt into the concrete fooying and after it cures lower it into place and drill a hole thru the eye and bolt post into place. Later, Nat

 

[EddieWalker]

I don't know what a house jack is, but it sure sounds like it's better than a bottle jack. I just use the bottle jack because they are fairly cheap, not too heavy or bulky and they work great for all sorts of things. I've used mine on my dozer, my backhoe and of course, a few homes. The beam underneath is a good idea. I usually use 4x6 blocks that are 2 feet long. For this, I might feel better with something bigger. I just wish I knew how much weight you were dealing with.

Simpson has all sorts of straps for this. Schmism posted a picture for one that will hold a 4x4 in place. The ones I was thinking of are about three feet long and have a bunch of holes in them. You secure one end to the rebar about halfway down. Ten the rest sticks straight up to line up with the sides of the posts. Depending on the size of your posts will determin where you put the straps.

I'd use two. Put them a side next to each other and bolt them to the post. Carriage bolts will do a good job. You don't kneed anything too big, just enough to hold the post in place for the next hundred years or so. Six 3/8's should be plenty. Three per side and about five inches apart is what I'd do.

Again, I'm just tossing out ideas here and I'm not qualified or experienced in you area to offer anything specific. Snow isn't something I deal with.

Eddie