Replies

1. 
   Framer | Mar 10, 2008 07:49pm | #1

   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?

   Joe Carola
1. 
   redtoolbox | Mar 11, 2008 01:41am | #3

   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

1. 
   frammer52 | Mar 11, 2008 02:36am | #4

   2 14" lvl's  I don't have an engeneers license though

2. 
   DoRight | Mar 11, 2008 03:08am | #5

   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.

2. 
   BossHog | Mar 10, 2008 08:04pm | #2

   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.

   Kill it, drive a stake through its heart, bury it and hope it never rises again to terrorize the American people. [Steve Forbes, speaking of the IRS]

3. 
   clinkard | Mar 11, 2008 05:31am | #6

   three 12' LVLS. sistered with good nailing.

1. 
   alrightythen | Mar 11, 2008 07:07am | #7

   "three 12' LVLS."

   Are just going to say that with a straight face?

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1. 
   IMERC | Mar 11, 2008 07:17am | #9

   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!!!

1. 
   alrightythen | Mar 11, 2008 07:22am | #10

   Maybe if he goes to a 4ply he could go with 10 footers...eh?     View Image                                          View Image    

1. 
   IMERC | Mar 11, 2008 07:25am | #11

   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!!!

2. 
   AaronRosenthal | Mar 11, 2008 08:12am | #12

   See, and when I say things like that, I'm accused of having a bad attitude........Quality repairs for your home.

   AaronR ConstructionVancouver, Canada

    

3. 
   alrightythen | Mar 11, 2008 09:12am | #13

   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    

2. 
   clinkard | Mar 12, 2008 12:21am | #16

   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
   3 wasting company time talking to colleagues. Bob never
   4 thinks twice about assisting fellow employees, and he always
   5 finishes given assignments on time. Often he takes extended
   6 measures to complete his work, sometimes skipping coffee
   7 breaks. Bob is a dedicated individual who has absolutely no
   8 vanity in spite of his high accomplishments and profound
   9 knowledge in his field. I firmly believe that Bob can be
   10 classed as a high-caliber employee, the type which cannot be
   11 dispensed with. Consequently, I duly recommend that Bob be
   12 promoted to executive management, and a proposal will be
   13 executed as soon as possible.Addendum:That idiot was standing over my shoulder while I wrote the report
   sent to you earlier today. Kindly re-read only the odd numbered
   lines.

1. 
   alrightythen | Mar 12, 2008 04:08am | #18

   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

2. 
   alrightythen | Mar 12, 2008 04:14am | #19

   just read your joke...the one you wrote intentionally.

   pretty good!  lol   View Image                                          View Image    

1. 
   clinkard | Mar 12, 2008 04:18am | #20

   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

2. 
   alrightythen | Mar 12, 2008 04:53am | #21

   ;)   View Image                                          View Image    

4. 
   alrightythen | Mar 11, 2008 07:15am | #8

   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

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5. 
   alrightythen | Mar 11, 2008 09:24am | #14

   red...I hope you didn't take my post the wrong way.

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6. 
   sledgehammer | Mar 11, 2008 11:47am | #15

   What is the downside if you do it wrong? If you have o rip it out later how organized will that look?

7. 
   notagain | Mar 12, 2008 02:05am | #17

   http://www.betterheader.com

8. 
   JeffBuck | Mar 12, 2008 07:09am | #22

   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

1. 
   alrightythen | Mar 29, 2008 05:12am | #23

   Time and materials I guess.   View Image                                          View Image    

9. 
   alrightythen | Apr 02, 2008 06:12am | #24

   so what happened? what'd you end up doing?

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1. 
   jeffwoodwork | Apr 04, 2008 12:43am | #25

   Hmm no response, I'm guessinfg that 12' beam in a 14' span collapsed and killed the poor guy!

1. 
   alrightythen | Apr 04, 2008 03:22am | #26

   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    

1. 
   bjr | Apr 04, 2008 06:28am | #27

   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

1. 
   alrightythen | Apr 04, 2008 07:11am | #28

   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