Fitting 3"x4" Timber posts tight

[biojem]

I want to remove 3 load bearing timber posts. I have asked the structural engineer and they said to double up the next three posts on the line with new 3"x4" timbers. I checked this with building control and they were fine with it.

The timber posts will bear on a wall plate at the bottom and a timber beam at the top. Its easy to access but I'm not sure how you get the posts in tight. If you cut it a fraction short it doesn't do anything and if its long you can't get it in and difficult to shave even with a chop saw. I can get to both sides of the installation.

Any advice gratefully received.[/b]

 

[bernardgreen]

First ensure the new posts are totally dried out. If not they may shrink and become a loose fit.

The hardness of the beam will affect the accuracy needed in the length of the post. The surface of a soft beam will deform by a milli-metre or two to spread the load between the adjacent posts.

Rather than having two posts side by side I would replace the existing posts with a single new post twice the size. If you do that then a couple of Acrow propps to force the beam a couple of milli-metres higher. This will release the existing post which can be removed and the new post cut to exactly the same length. Put the new beam in place and remove the Acrows.

Acrows can be used to lift the beam enough to allow the additional post to be forced into place next to the existing post.

Alternative to Acrows you could skim a few millimetres from the under side of the beam 4 inches from the existing post. ( assuming a 4 inch post ). The additional post can then be put under the beam where it has been skimmed and then forced along to it's final position next to the original post. A small chamfer on the edge of the post will ease its passage under the unskimmed part of the beam.