I need to take down a bearing wall with a 14′ span. Would 3 2×12 s do the job? There are bedrooms above. thanks
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I need to take down a bearing wall with a 14' span. Would 3 2x12 s do the job? There are bedrooms above. thanks
No one can give you an answer to question like that leaving out all the information needed to even try an answer you.
For starters, you need to know what size joists you have and the span of the joists on both sides of the bearing wall. You need to know what that wall is carrying above, headers, span and size of ceiling joists on second floor. If there are any point loads from the roof bearing down on top of that wall.
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? Can you access the girder below to fill in solid blocking underneath each end of the header where your king studs and jacks are?
Is this for a customer or your own house? 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?
Thanks for your reply. It is for a customer. the house is a 1980's split level and I am working off a slab. (the finished basement) The width of the house is 24'with 2x10 joist 16 oc. Could you suggest something that would be an over-build? Maybe a 1/2 inch steel plate sandwiched. Or would I be a fool to move ahead without the proper assessment of the structural situation. I am to begin tomorrow and I hate to look as unorganized as I am by slowing down the process. thanks
2 14" lvl's I don't have an engeneers license though
redtool, I think you missed some of the main point of past posters. One of your big issues is what will the beam bear on and how is that load carried to the foundation.
If you are on a slab you will be transferring the entire load to two small points on that slab. That is a problem! 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.
Ditto what Joe said.
The span of the header is only the beginning of the information you need to know to answer a question like that.
three 12' LVLS. sistered with good nailing.
"three 12' LVLS."
Are just going to say that with a straight face?
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at least there won't be any structural issues....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Maybe if he goes to a 4ply he could go with 10 footers...eh? View Image View Image
any windows or doors in those headers????
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
See, and when I say things like that, I'm accused of having a bad attitude........Quality repairs for your home.
AaronR ConstructionVancouver, Canada
maybe I was a little blunt, but I think I also gave him some decent advice. And I also hope he pulls this thing together.
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. Ever been in a situation when you wish you could reverse the clock 24hrs and have a do over?
At least he's smart enough to at ask, albeit the night before. ( 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
12" LVLs 14' long ,3 of them sistered. straight face. no jokes. it is only holding a house.
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
2 hard at work in his cubicle. Bob works independently, without
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sent to you earlier today. Kindly re-read only the odd numbered
lines.
well, reread your post. way I read it you want him to put a 12 foot LVL in a 14 foot opening. And 14 feet is still too short, unless the cripples ( jack studs) are going to be invisible.
Make it as thick or as many plys as you want, he's gonna need something at least 14 foot six.
I thought you wrote it that way on purpose as a joke.
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Edited 3/11/2008 9:11 pm by alrightythen
just read your joke...the one you wrote intentionally.
pretty good! 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. 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,
-clinkard
;) View Image View Image
Go to your lumber yard ( not HD) and ask them to get their engineer to spec you a beam. They will need all the pertinant information. But they can give you at least something.
but before you do the above Do YOU Have a permit for this job? Major structural issues you should....at least around here. And in that case they will most likely want to see an engineers stamp.
I know you don't want to look disorganized, but the the truth of the matter is that you are. You will look ( and be) a lot more professional if you do things the proper way.
good luck
red...I hope you didn't take my post the wrong way.
What is the downside if you do it wrong? If you have o rip it out later how organized will that look?
http://www.betterheader.com
my physical engineer would answer this within a day of the site check for around $300.
money well spent ... as I couldn't get the plans w/o his stamp and wouldn't build w/o his ideas.
How do U have any idea how to bid the job when yer not sure how you have to build it? Beams cost money ....
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Time and materials I guess. View Image View Image
so what happened? what'd you end up doing?
Hmm no response, I'm guessinfg that 12' beam in a 14' span collapsed and killed the poor guy!
lol...yeah I was wondering...he was 'sposed to be doing the job the next day, and we never heard a thing. View Image View Image
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. Otherwise you are accepting responsibility for whatever happens. 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. My insurance company would have a cow if I was ever audited and they found out I was "designing" structural elements. The insurance industry sees contractors as technicians, not designers. 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. 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. You have a 50% chance of screwing it up if you make your own decision. Either you will pull it off........or you won't and something goes wrong and then you are in deep doo doo. Let somebody whose qualified to make those decisions draw up what they determine is suitable for your application. For +/- $300.00 it's well worth it. Your budget should hopefully have some contingency dollars to pick up the tab for that kind of stuff. 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. Then you've got a signature by a design professional that says it is to be built to these spec's. But you have to make dang sure you built it to the spec's.
BjR
As a contractor you would have done exactly the right thing.
Not sure what the OP did, we havn't heard from him since. View Image View Image