Poured concrete stem wall

[pkkoepping]

Is there a method of putting a pocket into a 6" poured concrete stem wall to accommodate a 4x8 girder (floor joist) I understand min 4" bearing of the girder is required. Simpson has a girder hanger that fits on top of the wall, under the mud sill, but the cost makes it a tough trade off.

[Richard A Hetzel]

Does the stem wall exist, or has it yet to be poured?

[pkkoepping]

The stem wall is not yet poured

[Don_P]

Sure, just use a foam block in the pour and knock it out later. You need 1/2" of airspace on sides and back of the girder.

[pkkoepping]

Thanks, but is it possible to leave just 2" in the stem wall top (6") after putting in a 4" deep block to provide for the bearing surface of the girder? Is there some way to get around the 4" bearing requirement?

[Richard A Hetzel]

Two inches is pushing it, because even nif you can get some bars in there to keep that piece from just cracking off, there would be insufficient cover over the bars, and they would be subject to rusting, which again could cause the two-inch thickness to break off.

I don't understand why you will have a girder bearing on a stem wall. Stem walls are usually mostly underground, and girders are usually up in the air. Please clarify.

[pkkoepping]

My three "perceived reasons":
1. To visually lower the profile of the house; rather than putting floor joists and a rim joist on top of the mud sill with the subfloor on top of that you place the girders into the stem wall pocket so that the top of the girder is flush with the mudsill, and then install the subfloor on top of the girders and the mudsill and start your wall framing.
2. Reduced costs; no rim joist, saves two levels of lap siding to cover the rim joist plus related sheathing etc, and extra labor.
3. Saves building time and extra steps needed to get into the house.

Note: This is a home with a crawlspace, not a basement.

[Richard A Hetzel]

Why not just forget the pocket and put another post at the end of the girder?

[pkkoepping]

Richard, At times I try to force a perceived solution. Not only did you gave me a wonderfully simple solution, but I also learned a life's lesson. Many thanks!

[mjpliv]

You could also form pillasters at the steel beam locations