View Image View Image. The exterior wall (and the headers within) will carry all loads from the mid-point of the house (between the supporting walls) to the outside of the house (including the roof overhang). red...I hope you didn't take my post the wrong way. Thanks for your reply. There are bedrooms above. If there are any point loads from the roof bearing down on top of that wall. If you go pokin yer nose into something you had best not be pokin it into because you're not qualified to make technical determinations you are taking a big gamble. just read your joke...the one you wrote intentionally. You need to know what that wall is carrying above, headers, span and size of ceiling joists on second floor. Kill it, drive a stake through its heart, bury it and hope it never rises again to terrorize the American people. 13 executed as soon as possible.Addendum:That idiot was standing over my shoulder while I wrote the report way I read it you want him to put a 12 foot LVL in a 14 foot opening. If you are putting in an opening between 4 and 5 feet wide, then you'll need two 2-by-8 headers. Consequently, I duly recommend that Bob be - M.K. If you make a wild azz'd guess by giving it the hairy eyeball and or taking somebodys advice from here on the forum and you're wrong you've just opened up a big ole can a Shiite. Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine. View Image View Image. 12 promoted to executive management, and a proposal will be 14 feet span, one half =7, plus one = 8 inches. You then get a written copy of drawings/spec's with a engineers stamp and date on it and then keep a copy in your project files in case something ever fails. here is a joke for you, so it is not a total waste of time reading this replyThe Perfect Worker1 Bob Smith, my assistant programmer, can always be found And 14 feet is still too short, unless the cripples ( jack studs) are going to be invisible. It's a lot better for him look a little disorganized, but pull things together and do a great job, than to forge ahead strictly for the sake of looking like he knows what he's doing, and end up screwing things up. You have a 50% chance of screwing it up if you make your own decision. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. Can you access the girder below to fill in solid blocking underneath each end of the header where your king studs and jacks are? it is only holding a house. pretty good! thanks, I need to take down a bearing wall with a 14' span. Otherwise you are accepting responsibility for whatever happens. Either you will pull it off........or you won't and something goes wrong and then you are in deep doo doo. If it's for a customer, why are you the one who has to figure this out and how come there are no plans drawn with the size beam you need? See, and when I say things like that, I'm accused of having a bad attitude........Quality repairs for your home. Go to your lumber yard ( not HD) and ask them to get their engineer to spec you a beam. The column on the left of each chart labeled BEAM SPAN represents the beam length (with bearing) required for your project. If the opening will be 5 to 6 feet wide, such as for double doors, then you will need two 2-by-10 headers. © 2020 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Maybe if he goes to a 4ply he could go with 10 footers...eh? Your budget should hopefully have some contingency dollars to pick up the tab for that kind of stuff. This span size only applies to single floors; floors supporting additional stories or roofs require sturdier construction and use different LVL span size charts. Beams cost money .... Time and materials I guess. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." When supporting joists that span 12 feet with no overhang beyond the beam, a double ply beam can span in feet a value equal to its depth in inches. If you have o rip it out later how organized will that look? For example, if you are using an LVL beam with two plies of 16 inches or three plies of 14 inches with the columns spaced 14 feet from one another, the maximum span size is 36 feet. Bob is a dedicated individual who has absolutely no Then match these figures with the appropriate maximum span size. the house is a 1980's split level and I am working off a slab. Matt, Rob, and Patrick hear from listeners about mud homes and mixing valves, before taking questions about black windows, making structural repairs, and controlling mold in a new build. Maybe a 1/2 inch steel plate sandwiched. 10 classed as a high-caliber employee, the type which cannot be One of your big issues is what will the beam bear on and how is that load carried to the foundation. I would guess you would need to jack out the slab and pour footers to support it. Beyond that you need to know the load. Headers & Beams : Size Selection Tables Headers & Beams : Allowable Load Tables Tables … All Rights Reserved. I think the poster has enough sense to contact an engineer or spec sheets for the lumber, my response was a educated guess.Thanks for keeping it honest around here, my physical engineer would answer this within a day of the site check for around $300. ( I'm sure I've done the same), PS..I'd never accuse you have having a bad attitude Aaron ;), Dave View Image View Image. So, each lineal foot of wall must carry the loads imposed by a 1-foot wide strip in that 14 ft … Bob never For +/- $300.00 it's well worth it. 11 dispensed with. As a contractor I wouldn't touch that beam unless a licensed designer(structural Engineer) came out and looked at it and gave you some spec's on what to use. 12" LVLs 14' long ,3 of them sistered. 9 knowledge in his field. No one can give you an answer to question like that leaving out all the information needed to even try an answer you. 6 measures to complete his work, sometimes skipping coffee But you have to make dang sure you built it to the spec's. It is for a customer. thanks, 2 14" lvl's I don't have an engeneers license though. I need to take down a bearing wall with a 14' span. I am to begin tomorrow and I hate to look as unorganized as I am by slowing down the process. Use BEAM LEGEND chart for description of Better Header® beam number(s) that will best suit your application. View Image View Image. [Steve Forbes, speaking of the IRS], Podcast 295: Black Windows, Sagging Roofs, and Mold Control, Builder’s Advocate: An Interview With Viewrail, Podcast 299: Attic Ductwork, Twice Double-Hipped Roofs, and Keeping Warm in Calgary, Installing ZIP System Sheathing: Rough Openings With Liquid-Applied Flashing, Installing ZIP System Sheathing: Rough Openings With Flashing Tape, Installing ZIP System Sheathing: Sealing Penetrations, Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20, Simple Way to Make Old Walls Straight and Plumb, Expert insights on techniques and principles. © 2013-2019 Better Header . And if you make a field determination that "X" is satisfactory you could very well find yourself being accused by the insurance company of doing design work and they will raise your rates from General liability to Professional Liability. What is the downside if you do it wrong? The box on the chart that matches across your beam span and down from the span carried represents the Better Header® product which suits your needs. sent to you earlier today. No one can give you an answer to question like that leaving out all the information needed to even try an answer you. I know you don't want to look disorganized, but the the truth of the matter is that you are. For starters, you need to know what size joists you have and the span of the joists on both sides of the bearing wall. so what happened? The column on the left of each chart labeled BEAM SPAN represents the beam length (with bearing) required for your project. Click on the appropriate beam, this will take you to the calculation table for your project. If you are building a load-bearing roof, like a bedroom floor, space beams 18 ins heavy loads (bookcases, filled cupboards), 2 … 8 vanity in spite of his high accomplishments and profound any windows or doors in those headers???? no jokes. I need to take down a bearing wall with a 14′ span. thanks. These charts are for 30 pound per square foot snow load on the roof. Refer to the above illustration to determine the beam / header needed for your application. Are just going to say that with a straight face? Make it as thick or as many plys as you want, he's gonna need something at least 14 foot six. As a contractor you would have done exactly the right thing. If you are on a slab you will be transferring the entire load to two small points on that slab. There are bedrooms above. They will need all the pertinant information. What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!! And in that case they will most likely want to see an engineers stamp. For starters, you need to know what size joists you have and the span of the joists on both sides of the bearing wall. but before you do the above Do YOU Have a permit for this job? Learn more about affordable, modern floating stairs, from design to manufacturing to installation. 7 breaks. Span charts and 2012 IRC building codes for girders and headers. A double 2x12 beam can span 12 feet; a (2) 2x10 can span 10 feet and so on. Could you suggest something that would be an over-build? Determine the beam / header span (length) and the span carried (supported) by the beam / header. View Image View Image. 5 finishes given assignments on time. That is a problem! redtool, I think you missed some of the main point of past posters. "I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. Would 3 2x12 s do the job? Or would I be a fool to move ahead without the proper assessment of the structural situation. I firmly believe that Bob can be what'd you end up doing? The distance in this case is 12 ft+ 2 ft = 14 ft. -clinkard, ;) View Image View Image. (the finished basement) The width of the house is 24'with 2x10 joist 16 oc. Let's say that an Architect or Engineer does design a triple 2x12, that's 4-1/2" wide, do you have a 2x6 wall to accept that? lol View Image View Image, Forgot to spell check my post, and yes he does need a good 3" of bearing for that beam on either side. 10/23/2011 3:22 AM. Ever been in a situation when you wish you could reverse the clock 24hrs and have a do over? Major structural issues you should....at least around here. I thought you wrote it that way on purpose as a joke. Not sure what the OP did, we havn't heard from him since. thanks. well, reread your post. Click on the appropriate beam, this will take you to the calculation table for your project.