Hey guys, I will try to explain this as simple as I can. I am removing a wall between a converted garage/living room and a kitchen. The second floor joists from the garage and the kitchen are both bearing on the wall. The garage side is about 12ft 2″ and the kitchen side is 16ft 4″. The proposed opening will be 7ft 5″ from king stud to king stud. I do have a height limitation because the garage/living room is two steps lower than the kitchen and there is a 4×4 top plate. I was hoping to use double 7 1/4 lvl but I am not sure that it will be sufficent. Anything deeper than 7 1/4 will impose on the headroom making it about 6ft 2 or 3. I may have to go with a flitch beam. There are bedrooms and a bathroom above both spaces. Any thoughts on sizing this beam would be great.
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No one here can take the risk of tellig you what size. You need to have an eng. take a looksee and spec it for your application with the loads calc'ed.
Cheap insurance for your self and family.
IF someone here states "you need a 2x Blah.blah" they are shooting from the hip and the value is what you paid for the answer.
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Seriously Folks, I need a home for 3 lovers of your life.
Standard answer is no one here can give you a qualified answer with out actually seeing it.
Call a local engineer or architect to come out for a few hundred bucks and they'll be able to get specific.
When head room is real important we usually look to steel I beams.
Engineer:
But call your lumber supplier and see if they have a staff engineer or someone at their joist and beam supplier that can do the work for you.
If not, maybe they can refer you to a good engineer.