New here and looking for advice. Please forgive me if I do the wrong newbie thing. Previous owner removed some walls and added columns in the living room/kitchen area and only left the original top 2x4 as a support. The columns are spaced 8' on center with some sag between each one. I'd like to remove one column to make a 16' + 8' span. Trying to figure out the header needed. Also don't want to drop below 7' clearance. Specs: Concrete floor, single story, manufactured trusses, 5/12 roof, 8' ceiling.

Hello all, I have an urgent question; In October 2015, our contractor has rebuild our house from the inside up, due to severe termite damage. All (!) wooden flooring, beams, roof etc etc was taken out and the wooden parts of the house was build up again. Now, 9 months later, one of the most important, central carrying beams, started to crack heavily. The cracks are on both sides, but not exactly on the same place. There are many cracks but do not run from top to bottom. The 4x4 pole is pressured treated, but was very wet when placed. The pole also function as a t-carrier for 2 large horizontal beams (11x4 glued I believe) to support the overspan of the wooden floor on the first floor. The pole is now also tensioned as a bow and start setting as a C ~But this might only be 3/4 mm in the middle of the pole. The pole is standing straight on a concrete floor which was first covered with 2 layers of garage epoxy. I live in Tennessee with very hot humid sommers and close to freezing wet winters. However, the pole stands just behind an air conditioning outlet. My question; do I have a problem after just 9 months? Specially because it's carrying a lot and the cracks seems deep and on both sides? Or is this just "setting"? Please advice? The cracks seems lately to intensify faster. Thnx Marty Pictures: [url]https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6At8t2mp0KtWENBM0t2S29EdFk[/url]