Option #2 is if we could incorporate closely spaced vertical slats (2x4) that would span about 5 ft from the end of the beam. It acts as sort of a divider AND load bearing support. There would be anywhere from 15 to 20 of these boards. This would place some of the support over the wall below. There would be at least 4 to 5 2x4's in this area. The rest would be over the beam below. Again, there is a basement footing that spans all of this distance.

A site inspection by your engineer is the only way to determine any of this.

In general, you can have a beam that is supporting a point load above it.

For a wood-framed house, you are always considering size of beams and their clear height, soffits, bringing in/maneuvering for installation, cost, coordination with MEP, and simplicity to build with sometimes unsophisticated framers. It is always best to design the spaces with structure in mind.

[does] the post really ... need to be placed directly over a vertical support

Not at all.

But a structural professional engineer's stamped plans are the way to be sure.

FWIW, our upcoming 5,700 sf build was required to have more than 40 P.Eng. stamped pages of plans to pass municipal review.

Thanks for the input! That's really what I was looking for, the general idea it's common for a beam to support a point load above. That helps us formulate options before the engineer takes a look. Thanks!

If the span and size of the beam between the two bearing points in the basement can carry the load from above you can put the post on the beam or you can pack out the joist cavity above the beam below and rest the column on the floor.

Something like this

If the columns below spread too far apart and the beam between the bearing points is undersized and cannot carry the load, in most cases, you have to add a footing and a column below to break up the span.

In any case, you should get an architect or a structural engineer and see what needs to be done.

Good luck

Point loads from above in the mid span of beams below are a big deal. Drawings will always be needed for engineering analysis as they visually demonstrate spans, floor loads and roof loads, footing locations much better than paragraphs.

GN Builders,

Thanks for that detailed response! Another option is to incorporate a vertical slat wall that acts as a room divider and also support for the beam. In this case several of the 2x4 equivalent slats would be over the basement load bearing wall, which has a footing underneath it. Is there anything that states a post needs to be a certain thickness or do cumulative supports suffice? The total amount of vertical slat 2x4's would certainly add up to more than is required for a single post.

You would probably grow tiresome of how the slats look, and a future owner would certainly remove them. Then what? As I said earlier, when you have limiting structural considerations, design your spaces with those in mind. If you are so stuck on a particular design that you have to have a huge beam, expensive girder, or non-typical methods of support to accomplish it, then maybe move to a different house where those design considerations are better suited to the existing house and your budget/value of the house is tuned in to that.

Is this problem still relevant to you? It's hard to answer, but I'm in a similar position. I can't find any specialist who would take up work in my house. I don't understand what this is connected with, because I offer quite good money for the work. Perhaps the fact is that, in my case, you will need special equipment that could hold heavy weights to the roof. But I've already found the guys from the service https://teamliftingsolutions.co.uk/beam-load-testing-kent-essex-london/ for them to be engaged in lifting mechanisms. Now I am looking for an engineer who would help me organize and calculate all this work