Hello,
I was wondering about the following cross-roads when framers are meeting engineered joists (TrimJoists, I-Joist, I Beam, etc.) with engineered beams (LVL, glu-lam, etc.) from differing manufacturers.
For instance, Both Boise-Cascade and Georgia Pacific specify different Simpson StrongTie hangers when hanging their respective engineered joists off their respective engineered beams. But what happens when the builder orders one component from one manufacturer and the other component from someone else?
This is what I have run in to. I have GP LVLs specifying a series of Simpson StongTie hangers acceptable for use in their products and BC I-Joists specifying a completely different Simpson StrongTie hanger series. To make matters worse, none of the specified hangers from either manufacturer are available from HD/Lowes.
HD/Lowes do carry Simpson StrongTie joist hangers for indoor use and in the sizes I’m needing, but not for engineered joist-beam applications. I guess the Contractors/Professional Desk at these stores forgot that if a customer ‘special orders’ engineered lumber they can get away with conventional lumber hangers and …
Anyhow, anyone have any words of encouragement? BTW, the small instance of joist hangers already in my home and readily available are Simpson StongTie IUT211s, which are one of the BC specified joist hangers for their engineered products. Since my builder uses Carolina Builders maybe they carry them?
Replies
You threw out so much stuff there that I'm not entirely sure what your question is.
I don't really like mixing suppliers and brands on engineered systems. If there's ever a problem, that gives both companies the opportunity to point fingers at each other and not take care of the problem.
If you're just hanging say a BC I-joist off a GP LVL, use the hanger that actually fits the I-joists. It makes no difference to the LVL what brand of hanger is stuck on it.
As for availability - You should be able to get the hangers from whomever you bought the I-joists from. Companies typically carry the hangers you typically need to use their products. I would never expect such service from HD/Lowes.
Truss Designer Extraordinaire
Yes, the situation will be to hang BC I-Joists off GP LVLs. And, BC does specify a certain range of Simpson hangers. I'll see what the local yards have to offer. I took another look at the LVL-I-Joist already in-place in my home and the framers used some sort of adhesive on the seat of the hanger before sitting the joist in place. I guess this was to minimize squeaking?
I went through this w/ trusses and engineered beams. My truss supplier whipped out the Simpson catalogue and found the proper hanger and special ordered them. Got 'em in about three days via UPS, directly to me. There is no way any supplier can stock all the whacko designs available. If we don't have three days available for order-ship time, we aren't planning very well.
Also ordered a bunch of G-P I joists from GP through my local HD Pro Desk. They special ordered the hangers for me from Simpson. Got there in plenty of time. Again, took about three days of lead time. Now, I had to bring up the subject, they didn't ask - but isn't it my responsibility to know what I need to build my structure? I didn't give them the plans - I walked in, sat down and told them what I wanted. Had I given them the plans and they booted it, shame on them. I have found that my Pro Desk can and will order anything in their catalogs, even wierd that they didn't know existed till I asked.
DonDon Reinhard - The GlassMasterworks - If it scratches, I etch it!
Don, do you mind my asking what the specifications where on your GP I josts and the price HDpro managed to get them for you for?
Haven't the foggiest idea about the cost now. It was over a year ago. The spec was simple - 18 ft clear span, no load above except the drywall ceiling and insulation. Required an 11 7/8 inch deep joist.
I was neither surprised nor disappointed in the cost - seemed quite reasonable when I compared it to several lumber yards I called. Matter of fact, they got them to me sooner and cheaper than the three "Real" yards I called up in the Cumming, GA, area promised.
Sorry I can't remember the cost.
DonDon Reinhard - The GlassMasterworks - If it scratches, I etch it!
Don, I'm up in the Suwanee-Buford area! Good deal on the I-Joist purchase from HD.
Go through Beautiful Downtown Suwanee on Suwanee Dam Road every time we head out toward anything on I 85. Just finished an etching job in Beautiful Downtown Buford on Fri. Get to go back tomorrow to pick up equipment. It's a mere 30 miles from here to there. I shop at HD 134 in Cumming. I'm there as much as some of the employees. If I miss a day, they ask me if I've been sick!
DonDon Reinhard - The GlassMasterworks - If it scratches, I etch it!
Putting a daub of adhesive in the bottom of the hanger is for squeack prevention.
Terry