House on raised steel beam system

[m1208]

Hi:
I am working on an old one-story house with raised foundation system. It has metal TS 2 1/2 x 7 floor beams spaced at 4 feet on center. There are no joists between the beams and only the floor plywood spans between the beams. The metal beams are supported by metal piers. Majority of the metal piers have rusted over the years due to moisture from the soil and lost their structural integrity. I am planning to install new concrete piers (from Homedepot) with 4x4 post between the metal beam and the concrete pier. The connection of the post to beam is becoming a problem since the clearance between the bottom of the beam and the grade is only 12 inches. I also did not find any hanger from Simpson to connect the beam to the post. Any thoughts will be appreciated.

http://www.eng-tips.com/

 

[jayrod12]

Why don't you just pour your concrete pier right up to underside of beam?

 

[jike]

Sounds like he is trying to use a tapered precast concrete base (from Home Depot), rather then pour new concrete piers. It doesn't sound like he has a workable solution.

 

[jayrod12]

Right, Then I agree with you, jike, Unless the plan is to provide these things at a extremely tight spacing, or bearing directly on bedrock, this is not a feasible foundation system for a house.

 

[m1208]

The is the solution is am proposing. Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[m1208]

This is the existing condition

 

[XR250]

I second Jayrod's suggestion - "Why don't you just pour your concrete pier right up to underside of beam?"

 

[Jc67roch]

Watch out for/check the capacity of these jacks/posts for lateral load as well. Doesn't seem like it will be rigid enough to resist wind and seismic forces if all your foundations are to be as shown. As others note - best to anchor TS beams directly to a concrete foundation top.