The North American Basement

[John Sayers]

I'm become familiar with the US basements recently. They all appear to be similar consruction like this where there are a series of Steel posts (jackposts) that support a main beam (bearer) that then supports the floor joists.

The option of removing one or more of these posts does exist. All that needs to be done is to remove a bearer and replace it with a larger one. To do this you need to hire some Agroprops from your local building hire outlet. These props are then mounted to hold up the floor joists while you remove the exiting main bearer and the associated jack post. The new larger bearer is put in place and the agroprops removed and the joists then sit on the new bearer. A couple of carpenters could do the alteration in around ahalf a day.

Definitely worth considering when you are trying to design around the posts.

cheers
john