Like I said... I do this all day.
Ridge beams are NOT structural in ANY way. All they do is provide a mounting point for the top of the rafters to meet. The post down to the beam is ONLY there for temporary support (to hold the ridge in place) while being constructed. You as a home builder should know this. You may build homes but you build them to the way people like me design them. Not putting you down in anyway so dont take it that way..... its just that I've seen too many people make mistakes from listening to a builder rather than an architect or engineer. You have an engineer "a phone call away". I dont because I am my own engineer. Thats a BIG difference. But what do I know..... I've only been an Architectural Project Manager for 15 years....

I think that I just learned a couple of things... Cool!

I dont want to turn this into a pissing match but you are straight up wrong. Ridge beams ARE structural members. On the other hand, ridge boards are non-structural. You, as an architect, should know this.(How did that feel Mr. not putting you down)This particular build has the 2x6 ridge acting as a ridge beam. Obviously this house was built quite awhile ago and not per ridge beam build standards of today. Being the fact that there are no collar or heel ties keeping the rafters from spreading I would definitely say the 2x members ARE supporting the ridge and keeping the rafters from spreading under load..

I'm pretty sure when you are done designing a house you are handing the plans over to a structural engineer just like every other architect does. I also have 11 more years experience than you do.

Yes, your right, there are a lot of moron contractors out there that dont know what the hell they are doing, but I make no changes to anything structural without my engineers stamped and signed approval. And 90% of the time I already know what he is going to tell me just by going off the shear table and structural pages on the plans.

And by the way, my architect did not design my 5000 sf home, my wife and I did.

Im no engineer or architect, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. I say remove the beam and see what happens......just kidding, dont do that! :willy:

I dont know about everyone else, but I'm going to sit back, grill some burgers and watch this.

Hopefully there will be some agreement and you can get some direction on what to do.

Good luck!

Gaetano.... seriously I wasnt putting you down and agree I dont want this to be a pissing match. I too many times over have dealt with contractors who took the liberty to make a field change base on something they did on a past job weeks, months sometimes years ago. Just because a situation is similar it couldnt be any further from the same. Each member or beam or header etc is ALWAYS calculated on its particular criteria. there is no "book" or standard. With that said Idont want to frey away from Mikes original post.
Ridge beams are nothing more than a closer for the rafters to nail to PERIOD.
Attached are some pics of ridge beams.... please note none of them are supported from underneath like a post would be. They are all simply nailed temporarily to hold them in place untill all the rafters are secured. In the last pic you can also see at the top where the two piece ridge is spliced by a simple 2x4. I am sorry to let you down but you are 100% wrong on this.
The ridge size is soley determined on the length (span) of the ridge itself and also by the rafter size and slope (the ridge wants to be larger than the cut angle of the rafter). Another example would be a truss roof. The trusses have no "ridge" they are butted together. Even when they are erected, there is no ridge beam.

http://crodog.org/garage/firstrafters.jpg

http://crodog.org/garage/ridge2.jpg

http://crodog.org/garage/ridge3.jpg

http://crodog.org/garage/tempfloor.jpg

I truely wish there were more like you on the east coast. I deal with a lot of them who make on-the-fly decisions that create nothing but major issues and becomes a nightmare for the home owner who ultimately is put in the middle. I then have to back charge one of them for my time to revise and resubmit a drawing that solves the changed issue that was a result of not doing it according to the dwgs in the first place. Never a fun time when that happens.
Anyway.... great banter... I just hope it isnt taken out of context.
I want to add one last time that I am not putting you down. If you knew me personally you would know I dont do that or attempt to call people out. I am just trying to clarify right from wrong and not stating an opinion.

So back to Mikes OP...

Forget the ridge beam - which everyone knows is just a nailer.

Can he truss the roof - or just add collar ties?

Is the beam and post he wants to remove - something that was added for support of the "attic" area


http://www.rooftrussdesigns.com/RoofFrame.jpg

LOL Greg...
Yes he can truss the roof but this would be the most expensive ($$) option.
The least expensive IMO would be to create a flitch plate beam using the existing 2x10 beam thats there. Basically just add the 1/2" thick steel plates and additional members as calculated. I believe the end post lands in between the 2 garage doors and not over the header that would be on say 1 large garage door. If this is true he would have to open up both end walls and add a 2x4 to each side of what should be a double 2x4 post there already. then he would have to temp. support the clg joists and build the flitch plate beam. Lastly he can then remove the center post in question once completed.
This again IMO would be the easiest and least expensive option.

Just so no one gets the wrong idea, a ridge beam can be used as a structural member in certain circumstances. Like a cathedral ceiling. It is a special circumstance though.

You can lead a horse to water........................

Obviously you are not seeing the difference between ridge boards and ridge beams.

The photos you posted are ridge boards not beams.

I'm done here, nap time, LOL