How JustAnswer Works:

 
 
 
  • Ask an Expert
    Experts are full of valuable knowledge and are ready to help with any question. Credentials confirmed by a Fortune 500 verification firm.
  • Get a Professional Answer
    Via email, text message, or notification as you wait on our site.
    Ask follow up questions if you need to.
  • 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
    Rate the answer you receive.
 
 
 
Ask StructuralEng Your Own Question
StructuralEng, Consultant
Category: Structural Engineering
Positive Feedback: 96.8 %
Satisfied Customers: 3580
Experience: Structural Engineer
Type Your Structural Engineering Question Here...
StructuralEng is online now
A new question is answered every 9 seconds

Want to remove a portion of an existing structural wall (16"

Customer Question

Want to remove a portion of an existing structural wall (16" on center - east to west). Will need to span 11'. Single story home. Rafters are 2x4's and 24" on center spanning approximately 28' (north to south).

What size steel I beam is required? How many 2x4's do I need on each end to support the I-beam?

Submitted: 1 year ago.
Category: Structural Engineering
Expert:  StructuralEng replied 1 year ago.


StructuralEng : Hi
StructuralEng : I can help
StructuralEng : Let me read closer
StructuralEng :

Before we get started I’d like to point out that a Professional Engineer’s standard of care typically includes a site visit to assess field conditions and get an overall understanding of the structure. This can obviously not be accomplished through the internet. The information provided here is meant for informational purposes only (general sizing and budgeting) and is based on the information provided by you. The information should be verified by a professional engineer who can visit the site to ensure that potentially important information has not been overlooked or omitted.

StructuralEng :

Is this an interior wall or an exterior wall?

StructuralEng :

Is it supporting a floor or a roof?

Customer :

I understand fully.

Customer :

Interior wall. Beam to support a roof.

StructuralEng :

Is there an attic?

Customer :

yes.

StructuralEng :

The rafters are 2x4's spanning 24'?

StructuralEng :

That doesn't sound right

Customer :

28'

StructuralEng :

Sorry, 28'?

StructuralEng :

That really doesn't sound right?

Customer :

yes. correct.

StructuralEng :

Are you sure the wall supports the roof?

StructuralEng :

Is that 28' from wall to eave or from eave to eave?

StructuralEng :

What is your city/state, so I can look at snow loading?

Customer :

It appears to be a support/structural wall. when I twist on the 2x4's that are 16" on center, they do twist easily like they are not supporting weight.

Customer :

Englewood, CO

StructuralEng :

Is the 28' from the wall in question to the eave on each side or the total from eave to eave (14' on each side of wall?

Customer :

14' on each side of the wall.

StructuralEng :

Ok, assuming it is supporting the roof (I'm not conviced it is), then you can plan for a W6x15 ASTM A992 Gr. 50. It's 6" deep and weighs 15 pounds per foot.

StructuralEng :

I would use a single 4x6 to support each end.

Customer :

I'm not convinced it is supporting either. Why do you not believe it is a supporting wall?

StructuralEng :

Please have an engineer detail the connections for you to ensure overall stability.

StructuralEng :

I believe it's a supporting wall, but only for the attic. In my experience, it's not common to have an interior wall support the roof. For the size of the beam, though, I wouldn't worry about it. Let's assume it does (which I did) and the size is not much different than if we said it didn't

StructuralEng :

If you've found my answer helpful, please click the green "accept" button. I'll be happy to answer additional questions on the topic. If you could provide feedback, I would appreciate it.

Customer :

I do have a friend who is a P.E.

StructuralEng :

Great

Customer :

Thanks!

StructuralEng :

No problem and best of luck.

StructuralEng, Consultant
Positive Feedback: 96.8 %
Satisfied Customers: 3580
Experience: Structural Engineer
StructuralEng and other Structural Engineering Specialists are ready to help you

JustAnswer in the News:

 
 
 
Ask-a-doc Web sites: If you've got a quick question, you can try to get an answer from sites that say they have various specialists on hand to give quick answers... Justanswer.com.
JustAnswer.com...has seen a spike since October in legal questions from readers about layoffs, unemployment and severance.
Web sites like justanswer.com/legal
...leave nothing to chance.
Traffic on JustAnswer rose 14 percent...and had nearly 400,000 page views in 30 days...inquiries related to stress, high blood pressure, drinking and heart pain jumped 33 percent.
Tory Johnson, GMA Workplace Contributor, discusses work-from-home jobs, such as JustAnswer in which verified Experts answer people’s questions.
I will tell you that...the things you have to go through to be an Expert are quite rigorous.
 
 
 

What Customers are Saying:

 
 
 
  • Wonderful service, prompt, efficient, and accurate. Couldn't have asked for more. I cannot thank you enough for your help. Mary C. Freshfield, Liverpool, UK
< Last | Next >
  • Wonderful service, prompt, efficient, and accurate. Couldn't have asked for more. I cannot thank you enough for your help. Mary C. Freshfield, Liverpool, UK
  • This expert is wonderful. They truly know what they are talking about, and they actually care about you. They really helped put my nerves at ease. Thank you so much!!!! Alex Los Angeles, CA
  • Thank you for all your help. It is nice to know that this service is here for people like myself, who need answers fast and are not sure who to consult. GP Hesperia, CA
  • I couldn't be more satisfied! This is the site I will always come to when I need a second opinion. Justin Kernersville, NC
  • Just let me say that this encounter has been entirely professional and most helpful. I liked that I could ask additional questions and get answered in a very short turn around. Esther Woodstock, NY
  • Thank you so much for taking your time and knowledge to support my concerns. Not only did you answer my questions, you even took it a step further with replying with more pertinent information I needed to know. Robin Elkton, Maryland
  • He answered my question promptly and gave me accurate, detailed information. If all of your experts are half as good, you have a great thing going here. Diane Dallas, TX
 
 
 

Meet The Experts:

 
 
 
  • StructuralEng's Avatar

    StructuralEng

    Consultant

    Positive Feedback:

    96.8 %

    Satisfied Customers:

    2469
    Structural Engineer
< Last | Next >
  • http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/ST/StructuralEng/2011-5-3_125827_forJustanswer.64x64.jpg StructuralEng's Avatar

    StructuralEng

    Consultant

    Positive Feedback:

    96.8 %

    Satisfied Customers:

    2469
    Structural Engineer
  • http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/WA/walkereng/2012-2-2_4226_Brad2.64x64.jpg walkereng's Avatar

    walkereng

    Consultant

    Positive Feedback:

    98.0 %

    Satisfied Customers:

    934
    Over 28 years of Structural Engineering experience
  • http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/VG/vgdlpc/2012-1-17_235838_VICENTEPHOTO.64x64.jpg vgdlpc's Avatar

    vgdlpc

    Master's Degree

    Positive Feedback:

    100.0 %

    Satisfied Customers:

    17
    Civil Engineer, Major in Structures and Foundations. Professional Engineer 11 years of experience.
  • /img/opt/shirt.png ibosley's Avatar

    ibosley

    Master's Degree

    Positive Feedback:

    98.0 %

    Satisfied Customers:

    88
    Mechanical Engineering
  • http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/FL/FLAandNYLawyer/2012-1-27_14349_3Fotolia25855429M.64x64.jpg FiveStarLaw's Avatar

    FiveStarLaw

    Consultant

    Positive Feedback:

    90.0 %

    Satisfied Customers:

    105
    attorney and legal researcher
  • http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/MI/MichaelHannigan/2012-1-5_03441_Headshot.64x64.jpg MichaelHannigan's Avatar

    MichaelHannigan

    Internet Researcher

    Positive Feedback:

    96.3 %

    Satisfied Customers:

    276
    Extensive experience in research and problem solving.