HI all,
Its a long time since I posted anything here, I need help…
I’m about to start building my house in Ireland and I would like to put structural insulated headers in over window & door opes. I know you can buy insulated headers of the shelf in the good ould USA but not here!
I read an article on this site about choosing headers but there wasn’t enough information for what I’m looking for.
I was thinking of making mine form 31/2 timber with 1″ plywood on both sides fastened with adhesive and screws every 6″oc and insulating the inside.
Some of my opes are only 2ft 11″ which dont really worry me but I have 4 opes that are 5ft 11″ and 1 ope that is 9ft 7″.
Any information or first hand experience would be greatly appreciated!
Replies
I make a lot of my headers with 2x6 plates top and bottom, 2 sides from whatever header size code requires, filled with 2" of rigid foam.
We dont have a code here regarding headers for timber frame because stick framing isn't that common here atall. Some timber frame manufacturers use steel I beams but I would prefer to use a timber box beam for insulation purposes
The opening sizes are one part of the equation. What are the loads on those openings?
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
People here don't generally use box beams for several reasons:
Stick framing usually doesn't rely on the exterior sheathing as a structural element, so there is a fear it may not be recognized as such later and removed during future work.
Unlike solid lintel materials, box beams rely on precise nailing and gluing patterns. They also need detailing to deal with the shear loads at the ends, so that they usually require engineering and can't just be sized from code tables.
I find it easier to insulate headers by choosing a structural element sized so that it only takes up a half of the wall thickness and using foam to fill the remainder.