Ceiling beam - exposed or just keep post? 8' ceiling - HELP!

8 years ago

I am removing a wall in my kitchen to do open plan but need to replace with a beam. i have a p-lam beam on order that is 11 7/8" so it would drop my ceiling almost a 1' in that area. Is this a tragic idea? See photos...I need help...it's supposed to happen next weekend. If not - I need to leave the post. I don't have much attic space (2nd floor) and it would also require re-routing a ton of water, sewer, and venting pipes. I could paint the beam the same color as my ceiling...but is that dumb?

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User
Original Author

8 years ago

thanks for everyone's feedback so quickly. I was in a friend's house this weekend who literally had a beam at the same height and same dimensions as I'm getting installed (his was just sheet rocked over, but still exposed as a beam) and it wasn't intrusive whatsoever visually or height-wise. He had two of them throughout the dining/kitchen space so I feel 100% relieved and ok with it now. The beam will actually be way stronger than the wall so there definitely isn't any issue/concern with my house falling down. They cut the joists short to begin with so the original build out was done cheaply; this will actually give me more assurance. And I am returning my pendant lights since this beam will cross over the counter now and they would just look odd and I already had a couple of extra can lights so I'm just going to add those instead --- that return $ pays for half of the beam. #winning

And I just got the beam today - I like the look of the p-lam - now i have to figure out how to paint/cover it...but that can be later. For now I'm all good and I don't have any friends over 7' tall. My contractor is almost 7' tall and he can still fit under the height without ducking so it's all good. It was a bit of a false alarm but learning as I go. Have a great week everyone! :)

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Comments (11)

sheloveslayouts
8 years ago
How does the beam relate to your kitchen layout? Can you post your layout and show where the beam crosses it?
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
8 years ago
Fur down the entire ceiling to be flush with the bottom of the beam.

Get a second glue lam and rip both to the height of the existing joists (clear with the engineer first)

Re engineer to use a sandwich of timbers that match the existing and steel glitch plates (also engineer)
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PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
8 years ago
tabatha:

Please show us the span chart you used to arrive at your 11 7/8" beam depth. Thanks.
User
Original Author
8 years ago
I have a 2 story condo. So it supports the top floor.
User
Original Author
8 years ago
My contractor had me order a p-lam beam. 11 7/8” x 7 x 14’ (p-lams come 9.5” and 11 7/8” and then 14”). I need the 11 7/8” to hold up my top floor.

He is going to nest it in each side so it’s resting in a little pocket, if you will.

He doesn’t want to push it up into the ceiling, however, because of the extensive rerouting of the plumbing that would have to be done.

Which means the entire 11 7/8” is dropped from 8’ ceilings. This is what I’m concerned with is dripping an 8’ ceiling to 7’ in that space which visually cuts off my ceiling in the middle of the house practically because you walk into the front door and you see straight to the back. I have a completely open living space. 2 story townhome so the first floor is less than 500sf.

.

My gut is saying to force the issue of rerouting and maybe leave a few inches exposed - 9 inches in there’s a horizontal plane of wood (2nd floor above) so maybe just about 3” would be exposed. Is that odd? Should I have more exposed if I’m exposing any portion? I would really appreciate a professionals opinion.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
IMO it depends on your budget. To reroute all the stuff that needs rerouting to get permission to do that too could cost a lot of money. I think I would rather have a drop in the ceiling than a post and honestly I do not think it will cause muchof an issue with the view through from the front door unless your friends are almost 7’ tall. I do agree that seeing the plans for the space would be very helpful. Would it be possible to do a steel beam with a smalller dimension.
User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Put the wall back. Or spend at least 10K more with professionals to do this safely, and correctly . Or have your house fall down.
Dina Messina
5 years ago
If I have a para beam that looks terrible , and i sheetrock over it , how can make it look like a wood beam again? I want to keep it and my husband says it is not a beam to be shown
Dina Messina
5 years ago
I love the beam look .
Dina Messina
5 years ago
But it’s in terrible condition so he’s covering it up