Support Wall Removed

Sometimes people in older homes want to "open" up a room to make it similar to newer construction.  Often times this is achieved by removing a vertical, load-bearing wall.  Unfortunately, above this Herndon, Virginia room is a bedroom, which was slowly sinking downward.  The span you see, now supported in the center by temporary columns and a beam, is just over 21 feet.  Those joists supporting the bedroom above are only 2x6"s.  This size joist simply cannot support that span for very long.