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Need help with basement door!From: vancerog@charter.net
Category: Foundations and Basements
Remote Name: 65.204.98.254
Date: 13 Sep 2005
Time: 02:35 PM
CommentsI desperately need information and advice about how this should be done:
I plan to enlarge my basement garage door from 9’x 7’ to 12’ x 7’. My current 9’ wide door has a 12’ long cinder block lintel. I need to remove this lintel and replace it. It has a row of 4” cap block on top of it. My problem is this is a load bearing exterior wall of a basement ranch style home. Directly above the lintel are floor joist (approx. 9) that support the upstairs floor, the exterior wall, the upstairs ceiling and the roof. The house is a standard southern rancher design with web floor joist that span 30’ front to back. The length of the back wall is 70’ long. The current lintel starts 4’ from the back corner of the house. I would like to start at the same location and go 3’ longer with a new lintel. I plan to support the upper part of the house with headers and floor post at each floor joist in the basement while enlarging the hole. My questions are:
1)How can I remove the lintel without disturbing the 4” cap block?
2)What is the best way to cut the 3’ section out?
3)What size lintel should I put back in for a 12’ opening? I assume 15’.
4)Would (5) 2 x 12’s nailed together as a header 15’ long work as a replacement for the lintel. (This would require me to remove the 4” cap block also).
5)Should I use a 15’ cinder block lintel?
6)Should I use a steel beam lintel? If so, what size?
7)What is the recommended amount of area each end of the lintel should set on? i.e. if you have a 14’ lintel and have a 12’ opening is 1’ on each end setting on block enough? What is the minimum it can be?
Thanks for your help and advice!
You can contact me at vancerog@charter.net
Roger
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