A number of contractors keep the CSES number at hand when they undertake a remodel which involves moving or relocating a wall or post. If the wall is a bearing wall, we can replace that with a new wood beam; however, then the post loads at the beam ends must be accounted for. Frequently, the posts do not land anywhere convenient, and we have to provide additional structure (such as another beam or post on the floor below) and to do that we have to know where the new post loads are to be supported.
The blue tape in the photos is intended to document where new posts or bearing walls are located, on the floor above. Thus both the engineer and the builder can more easily visualize, and thus discuss, the changes in the structure necessary to achieve the goal of removing a wall or moving a post. It’s all part of the process.
