I have a brick 1950 home with an existing second floor. I am making an addition to the front and the back (going out) including the basement up to the existing second floor. I want to add a third floor which will cross the new and over the existing area.

The structural engineered basically said the pillars in the basement of the existing house have to be demolished so another steel beam is added to support the third floor. This really requires a lot of demolition on the existing house. Isn't there another way that it can be done without so much demolition on the exiting house?

If an engineer tells you a pillar is not going to carry the load you will not find any of us agruing with him. An enginneer must stamp your drawing and sign them assuring the house will not fall. I would be a little surprised if anyone would disagree with me on this. A short cut in structural support is not something you really would want.

If an engineer tells you a pillar is not going to carry the load you will not find any of us agruing with him. An enginneer must stamp your drawing and sign them assuring the house will not fall. I would be a little surprised if anyone would disagree with me on this. A short cut in structural support is not something you really would want.


Thanks - I agree with you. The contractor said it was a separate foundation to hold the weight of the third floor. I will be meeting with the structural engineer to see what assumptions he made when he designed it that way. I wanted to be a little more informed. For example, why don't the steel beams go on the outside of the house on the new construction part, instead of the way he designed it which requires a lot of teardown on the existing corners of the house?

Thanks! Luzb