Building and Construction - need wood beam advice

Author

need wood beam advice

Steve Barker LT

2006-03-19, 3:21 am

I need to place a beam to support a ceiling (and roof above that). The span
is 14 feet. Supported only on the ends. I'm thinking of 3 2x12's with a
half inch of plywood between each. Is this overkill, not enough, or just
right? I don't really want anymore beam than necessary, but also don't want
it sagging 5 years from now.

thanks!

--
Steve Barker
Stilwell, KS

RicodJour

2006-03-19, 3:21 am

Steve Barker LT wrote:
> I need to place a beam to support a ceiling (and roof above that). The span
> is 14 feet. Supported only on the ends. I'm thinking of 3 2x12's with a
> half inch of plywood between each. Is this overkill, not enough, or just
> right? I don't really want anymore beam than necessary, but also don't want
> it sagging 5 years from now.

Try the Canadian Wood Council's SpanCalc online design tool, and/or
call your local lumberyard engineered lumber representative. The first
will give you a dimensional lumber solution, the other, a superior LVL
(laminated veneer lumber) solution. Dimensional shrinkage can be
substantial, leading to cracks and other problems.

No one can design a solution without more specific information
regarding spans, loads, locations, etc.

R

Verizon

2006-03-31, 8:21 pm

Utilizing tables in the 2003 IRC, 4- 2x12's for an exterior wall span of 14'
(no ply filler), but would go 11-9 for an interior wall. (that's for a 20'
wide structure; Doug Fir Larch, hem-fir, S.pine or SYP; 30 lb. ground snow
load; roof live load 20 lb; & #2 lumber.)

More realistically, at 28' wide, 4-2x12's would only span 12'-2" & 10'-2"
respectively. (Best 3-2x12's go is 12'-2" exterior & 10'-2" for 20 wide,
10'-7" & 8'-10" for 28 wide.)

(It doesn't mean that it won't work, only that it's not code under these
conditions.)

I think that Ricodjour's advice is correct, you are probably going to need a
LVL- type of engineered beam. Try contacting your local builder supply such
as Lowe's and see what info they can offer on the products they carry.

"Steve Barker LT" <railphotonut@not.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:qT6Tf.29541$ty4.5525@tornado.rdc-kc.rr.com...
>I need to place a beam to support a ceiling (and roof above that). The
>span is 14 feet. Supported only on the ends. I'm thinking of 3 2x12's with
>a half inch of plywood between each. Is this overkill, not enough, or just
>right? I don't really want anymore beam than necessary, but also don't
>want it sagging 5 years from now.
>
> thanks!
>
> --
> Steve Barker
> Stilwell, KS
>
>
>
>

Steve Barker LT

2006-03-31, 11:21 pm

Thanks for the reply. You might have missed one of my posts. The wall in
question turned out to be merely a partition, running parallel with the
ceiling joists. Not load bearing at all. It is now gone along with the
chimney.

--
Steve Barker

"Verizon" <webmaster@npcc.net> wrote in message
news:9_iXf.1710$qe7.968@trnddc04...
> Utilizing tables in the 2003 IRC, 4- 2x12's for an exterior wall span of
> 14' (no ply filler), but would go 11-9 for an interior wall. (that's for
> a 20' wide structure; Doug Fir Larch, hem-fir, S.pine or SYP; 30 lb.
> ground snow load; roof live load 20 lb; & #2 lumber.)
>
> More realistically, at 28' wide, 4-2x12's would only span 12'-2" & 10'-2"
> respectively. (Best 3-2x12's go is 12'-2" exterior & 10'-2" for 20 wide,
> 10'-7" & 8'-10" for 28 wide.)
>
> (It doesn't mean that it won't work, only that it's not code under these
> conditions.)
>
> I think that Ricodjour's advice is correct, you are probably going to need
> a LVL- type of engineered beam. Try contacting your local builder supply
> such as Lowe's and see what info they can offer on the products they
> carry.
>
>
> "Steve Barker LT" <railphotonut@not.hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:qT6Tf.29541$ty4.5525@tornado.rdc-kc.rr.com...
>
>

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