First post here so bare with me if I don't explain the situation to standard.
I am wanting to have a load-bearing wall removed between my kitchen and living room. I have had 2 contractors look at it and they came up with 2 very different plans and I can't seem to get a third contractor to show up and provide a deciding vote.
The wall is on the main level of a rancher between the attic space and the basement. The basement ceiling (main level floor) joists are supported by a beam and pillars in the basement that run in line with the apex of the roof the length of the house. The wall to be removed is 12' and runs along this same line. The width of the house is 28' and the space to be opened is 17' long. 8' ceilings. Picture is obviously not to scale.
The attic is just rafters and joists all of which are 2x6s. Every 8' in the attic are some vertical supports (2x6s also) and this is in Tennessee so it doesn't have the threat of heavy snows.
CONTRACTOR 1: install a concealed laminated beam in the attic and use steal joist hangars, pretty straight forward.
CONTRACTOR 2: build "jack" trusses into the existing rafters/joists and this will supposedly push the weight to the exterior walls and not require a beam.
Cost on the 2 estimates is not an issue, I only want to make sure it is done correctly so no issues in the future.
I am wanting to have a load-bearing wall removed between my kitchen and living room. I have had 2 contractors look at it and they came up with 2 very different plans and I can't seem to get a third contractor to show up and provide a deciding vote.
The wall is on the main level of a rancher between the attic space and the basement. The basement ceiling (main level floor) joists are supported by a beam and pillars in the basement that run in line with the apex of the roof the length of the house. The wall to be removed is 12' and runs along this same line. The width of the house is 28' and the space to be opened is 17' long. 8' ceilings. Picture is obviously not to scale.
The attic is just rafters and joists all of which are 2x6s. Every 8' in the attic are some vertical supports (2x6s also) and this is in Tennessee so it doesn't have the threat of heavy snows.
CONTRACTOR 1: install a concealed laminated beam in the attic and use steal joist hangars, pretty straight forward.
CONTRACTOR 2: build "jack" trusses into the existing rafters/joists and this will supposedly push the weight to the exterior walls and not require a beam.
Cost on the 2 estimates is not an issue, I only want to make sure it is done correctly so no issues in the future.