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Looking at doing a 2x8 beam on south wall of house for

Looking at doing a...

Looking at doing a 2x8 beam on south wall of house for garage door opening. Planning on using flitch plate with triple 2x8's and steel sitting on top of the sill plate if I use 1/2" steel, what hole spacing do I need

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2/25/2017

Structural Engineer: StructuralEng, Consultant replied 3 years ago

StructuralEng, Consultant

Category: Structural Engineering

Satisfied Customers: 9,758

Experience: Structural Engineer

Verified

HelloI can hepHelpWhatvis the load on the beam? How did you arrive at that flitch plate beam size?

Customer reply replied 3 years ago

The existing beams in crawl space are 2x8 with 1/2" plywood in between. House is 1 story with bonus room. We had talked previously about adding c15x40 channel beams on either side of wood beams. Looking at adding additional support above sill plate for garage door and service door. Thinking I can cut back joists, insert beam above sill plate, and reattach joists with joist hangers. Trying to decide whether to use 3/4" plywood or steel plate between triple 2x8's running 36 feet

Structural Engineer: StructuralEng, Consultant replied 3 years ago

Ok. I didn't size that flitch plate beam, correct?

Customer reply replied 3 years ago

Correct

Structural Engineer: StructuralEng, Consultant replied 3 years ago

Ok. I don't feel terribly comfortable providing a bolt spacing for a beam I don't know to be properly sized.

Customer reply replied 3 years ago

OK, would you be able to size beam please and we can go from there.

Structural Engineer: StructuralEng, Consultant replied 3 years ago

What is the maximum span of the beam and what is the joist length on each side of the beam?

Customer reply replied 3 years ago

The length of the south wall is 36 feet with the beam sitting on top of the sill plate. The longest open span is 10 feet which will be above the new garage door. There will be two additional spans above an egress window and an entry door 3 feet wide. The joists are 20 feet in length.

Structural Engineer: StructuralEng, Consultant replied 3 years ago

is it supporting one floor only? Or a floor, and attic, and a roof?

Customer reply replied 3 years ago

Two floors and a roof.Actually, one floor, attic/bonus room, and roof

Structural Engineer: StructuralEng, Consultant replied 3 years ago

What is the city and state so I can look at snow loading?
What is the link from the ridge of the roof to The wall with this beam?
Is this wall parallel to the ridge of the roof?

Customer reply replied 3 years ago

I live in Maumelle, Arkansas. The wall is parallel to the ridge. The house is stick built. The other main beams parallel to the wall are 2x8 with 1/2 inch in between them. The main beam is 48 feet long on 6 1/2 foot centers running parallel to the south wall.

Structural Engineer: StructuralEng, Consultant replied 3 years ago

What is the dimension from the roof ridge to this wall?

Customer reply replied 3 years ago

Looks like 12-14 feet up and 20 feet over.

Structural Engineer: StructuralEng, Consultant replied 3 years ago

That size fitch plate beam is undersizedFor the 10' span

Structural Engineer: StructuralEng, Consultant replied 3 years ago

It would work with 3 - 2x10 with two 1/2" plates

Customer reply replied 3 years ago

I don't have room for 2x10s Have to use to 2x8s. Would I be able to change to 3/4 inch steel plate?Other option is to use a Super 7 beam from Better Header which has same strength as W8x31 beam and already packed with wood

Customer reply replied 3 years ago

I have enclosed copies of the two plans. House plan.pdf is using triple 2x8's with 3/4 steel plate in between for the beam on south wall and house plan - opt 2 super 7 beam is using the W8x31 equivalent from Better Header. I think I'm close enough that I can send to contractor for bidding. Let me know what you think.

house plan.pdfhouse p...pdf

house plan - opt 2 super...pdfhouse p...pdf

Structural Engineer: StructuralEng, Consultant replied 3 years ago

You could use three 1.75" x 7.25" 2.0E LVL with two 5/8" x 7.25" steel plates with 5/8" bolts at 16" o.c. It's important that the steel bear directly on the supports.

StructuralEng, Consultant

Category: Structural Engineering

Satisfied Customers: 9,758

Experience: Structural Engineer

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