I am trying to build a pair of box beams in my great room that will span about 17′. I was thinking about using couple 2×6’s or 2×8’s to span the distance and then casing them in 1x’s to achieve the box beam look. The only load will be on one which are 4 light bookshelf speakers. So really there isn’t a load except their own weight. I was planning on lagging some plates or blocks to the sills on either side. Any thoughts?
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
The LevelSafe Pro automatically adjusts to uneven surfaces, making it easier and safer to work with extension ladders on sloped terrain.
Related Stories
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Fine Home Building
Follow
-
Fine Homebuilding
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial Now -
GBA Prime
Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
Replies
See if an I-joist would work, it's pretty light and strong too. They are straight, so you could dress it up easily, plus you can run wires inside easily because they are not solid.
You basically just need something that won't sag under its own weight over that distance. 2x6 won't hack it, and 2x8 is a little iffy. The I-beam is a thought, but maybe the thing to do is to use the 2x6 and make it into a cable truss with aircraft cable running under it, held off from the bottom in the middle a couple of inches. Or two 2x6s side by side, spaced apart 1/2 inch, with the cable running internally between them.
2x6's will support the weight (especially when everything is glued together), they just aren't very straight. For projects like this I'll get an lvl twice the width needed and rip it lengthwise.