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Nailing LVLs, is this enough?

blownonfuel | Posted in Construction Techniques on August 14, 2008 05:14am

I can’t seem to find a nailing schedule for my built up LVL (two 1 3/4x 11 1/4) garage headers, so are 3 16ds @ 12 o.c. okay?

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  1. frammer52 | Aug 14, 2008 05:23pm | #1

    That sounds about right.

  2. Piffin | Aug 14, 2008 05:24pm | #2

    plenty

     

     

    Welcome to the
    Taunton University of
    Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
     where ...
    Excellence is its own reward!

  3. Jim_Allen | Aug 14, 2008 05:45pm | #3

    Not on my job.

    Bob's next test date: 12/10/07

    Quote of the day: "...can't be done, it will take too long, not enough pipeline capacity, yada yada but yet they don't apply the same skepticism to their own "solutions" such as wind and biofuels"

    1. blownonfuel | Aug 14, 2008 06:01pm | #5

      Not enough Jim?

      1. Jim_Allen | Aug 14, 2008 06:54pm | #9

        No. In the days before engineers specced the nailing patterns we'd use this rule of thumb: 2x12's gets 6 nails every 16". 2x10s get 5 nails every 16". 2x8's get 4 nails every 16" etc.Most of the lvl specsheets I've seen would put double or triple the amount you are using. They were specced for gun nails though so there is some value added using 16d cc sinkers...but we'd still put five or six every 16" or so. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07

        Quote of the day: "...can't be done, it will take too long, not enough pipeline capacity, yada yada but yet they don't apply the same skepticism to their own "solutions" such as wind and biofuels"

        1. blownonfuel | Aug 14, 2008 07:07pm | #11

          Jim I finally found it online. Get this, "up to 12" in depth, top loaded beam, 2 rows of 16ds".

          Your right, it takes longer to look up the stuff than it does to do it.

          Edited 8/14/2008 12:08 pm ET by blownonfuel

        2. Piffin | Aug 15, 2008 03:27am | #17

          I don't know about standerdized sheets, but i've had a few LVLs spoeced by engineers and for doubles, vertical loading, it was always four sixteen penny nails every 16" OC.When it went to tripled or quad, or flitched with steel, the fastening schedule got interesting though, with through bolts too. 

           

          Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          1. Jim_Allen | Aug 15, 2008 04:05am | #18

            That has been our experience too. My header habits were developed by my mentors and in the ensuing years, their idea of what constituted "good carpentry practices" ruled the neighborhoods. I've never seen LVLS get broomsticked or splintered though by too many nails. Sometimes I wonder about the girder truss nailing schedules. Sometimes finding a spot without a nail is hard when we have to add bolts. I learned to leave a 12" spot clear of nails on 4 plys. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07

            Quote of the day: "...can't be done, it will take too long, not enough pipeline capacity, yada yada but yet they don't apply the same skepticism to their own "solutions" such as wind and biofuels"

          2. Piffin | Aug 15, 2008 04:46am | #19

            "finding a spot without a nail is hard when we have to add bolts. "Ain't that the truth! We got to where we would just ack it together enough to keep the air out from between and then drill bolts in, and followup with more nails after the drilling is done 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

  4. reinvent | Aug 14, 2008 05:57pm | #4

    On both sides and stagger the two sides from each other, Also put the nails in at an angle,

    1. blownonfuel | Aug 14, 2008 06:02pm | #6

      Thanks Rv.

      1. User avater
        BossHog | Aug 14, 2008 06:14pm | #7

        If a beam is top loaded, all you need is enough to hold them together. If this is a garage door header, that would be the case.If a beam is SIDE loaded - That's a whole different ball game. Whoever designs the beam should come up with the nailing schedule so the load is transfered to the 2nd (and possibly 3rd) ply.
        I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy - But that could change. [Dan Quayle]

  5. User avater
    jonblakemore | Aug 14, 2008 06:32pm | #8

    Who made your LVL's? I would check online to find the installation sheets. Actually, my first choice would be to get the specs from the person who designed the beam for the loads you are going to have. If you can't do that for some reason, I would go online.

     

    Jon Blakemore

    RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA

    1. Jim_Allen | Aug 14, 2008 06:55pm | #10

      It takes more time to research it than it does to nail the beejesus out of it LOL! Bob's next test date: 12/10/07

      Quote of the day: "...can't be done, it will take too long, not enough pipeline capacity, yada yada but yet they don't apply the same skepticism to their own "solutions" such as wind and biofuels"

      1. User avater
        jonblakemore | Aug 14, 2008 08:04pm | #12

        True, but based on the # of questions the OP is asking, I don't think research is something he's afraid of. 

        Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA

        1. Jim_Allen | Aug 14, 2008 09:11pm | #13

          Thats why I answered so succintly on the first post "no on my job". I know there will be better "correct" and "technically" correct but header nailing is one of those areas that carpenters get judged on. Too few nails and everyone will think "look at those cheap hacks". So, 100 extra nails on a house with a nail gun is a cheap psychological trick. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07

          Quote of the day: "...can't be done, it will take too long, not enough pipeline capacity, yada yada but yet they don't apply the same skepticism to their own "solutions" such as wind and biofuels"

          1. JohnFinn | Aug 14, 2008 09:25pm | #14

            Interesting. JLC had an artical a few years ago something like the 12 most common framing errors. One was the overnailing of headers which actually weakens the structural member(s).

          2. Jim_Allen | Aug 14, 2008 09:34pm | #15

            Don't believe everything that JLC says and do believe that if you nail properly, your work will be viewed as "hackish". I speak from many years of experience. A lot of what gets done in framing is nonsense and only done for the benefit of image. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07

            Quote of the day: "...can't be done, it will take too long, not enough pipeline capacity, yada yada but yet they don't apply the same skepticism to their own "solutions" such as wind and biofuels"

          3. JohnFinn | Aug 14, 2008 09:44pm | #16

            It was good advice for framers nailing the heck out of 2x's making toothpicks out of walls and joists. I do agree it is harder to destroy the struc. integ. of a header by over-nailing. Most of the hack work I've seen comes from mis-nailing more than anything else. Tired arms at the end of a long day I suppose.

  6. dovetail97128 | Aug 15, 2008 08:50am | #20

    Yes.

    http://www.ilevel.com/literature/TJ-9001.pdf

    Pg 24 in the link below. http://www.lpcorp.com/Literature/LP_LVL_General_Professional_Brochure_Tech_Guide.pdf

    What it looks like to bystanders means nothing if it done correctly according to the correct information. Plus you get the joy of proving the old hacks wrong when you do it correctly.



    Edited 8/15/2008 2:12 am by dovetail97128

    1. Jim_Allen | Aug 15, 2008 06:10pm | #21

      Back in MI the old guys wouldn't know how to read and they'd run you out of the subdivion. Sometimes, perception is reality. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07

      Quote of the day: "...can't be done, it will take too long, not enough pipeline capacity, yada yada but yet they don't apply the same skepticism to their own "solutions" such as wind and biofuels"

      1. JohnFinn | Aug 15, 2008 07:13pm | #22

        Back in MI the old guys wouldn't know how to read and they'd run you out of the subdivion.

        Your not kidding.

        1. Jim_Allen | Aug 15, 2008 07:34pm | #23

          No, I'm not kidding. Most of the east side builders were/are immigrants and they wouldn't give a hoot about anything written on paper. They are the kind of builders who's hands are cracked from working for years in the mud and most of them held carpenters in very high esteem. But...that also works in reverse. It doesn't take much for them to form an opinion that a carpenter is a hack and once they start down that road, you might as well move your operation out of the county. Most of them ate at the same dinner table on Thanksgiving Day! Bob's next test date: 12/10/07

          Quote of the day: "...can't be done, it will take too long, not enough pipeline capacity, yada yada but yet they don't apply the same skepticism to their own "solutions" such as wind and biofuels"

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