Can I eliminate the vertical center upright by doubling the horizontal timber and placing it on top of the outside posts to span almost 5 meters while staying on a budget?
Asked by Maurice Webb 
3 weeks ago
Last Updated: November 4, 2024
Hey, do you think it’s possible to take out the middle vertical support if I reinforce the horizontal beam and place it on the outer posts instead? The span is about 5 meters long. Trying to keep costs low! 😅
No
Absolutely, you can contact a local engineer for assistance.
Yep, just make sure to provide additional support for that 2×8 on the sides
Definitely, but you might want to consider adding some 2 x 6 rafter ties and reinforcing your post supports (maybe with stronger angle brackets and hangers) to prevent the walls from blowing out.
What are the live loads on your roof?
No
One option might be to bolt a glue lam beam to the side of the post and provide support for the beam. Simpson offers span tables for different beam sizes.
Just leave it be. The post is crucial for supporting the load. Your roof rafters act more like joists, they are not part of a truss assembly. If you remove this post, there would be nothing stopping the roof from collapsing or shifting. You could construct trusses and add the necessary webbing for support, but then you would have to redistribute the load to the ends of the rafters and to the ground. However, without all the specific dimensions and loads of your roof, I would be hesitant to attempt it without consulting a structural engineer.