Engineered Support Beam

The sizing steps are.

Engineered support beam.

Engineered wood products when it comes to engineered wood products 84 lumber provides the ultimate in support. To carry a beam 3 1 2 inches wide this means purchasing a total of six 2x4 studs. Builders may combine and use multiple materials to create a custom beam that meets the building code requirements. Support beam materials other than steel include engineered beams like lvl or glulam wood and concrete.

Engineered beams lvl or gluelam. You will need also lumber sufficient to create two king posts and four jack posts. While not as strong as lvl or psl beams lsl is generally cheaper and are ideal for short spans. Sizing engineered wood beams is not at all difficult.

To size engineered beams and headers you begin with load per foot of beam. I joist and rim boards glulam beams and laminated columns as well as panel products. From composite i joists to laminated beams we use our national network of engineers suppliers and manufacturers to provide systems which are structurally sound. Drive shims between the support studs and the bottom of the beam until the beams is tight against the underside of the tie plate.

An engineered wood beam is a wood product or assembly designed to replace traditional structural lumber. Due its high allowable shear strength lsl beams have capacity for larger penetrations than other engineered wood beam options. Structural ability of sawn and engineered wood beams are predicted through mathematical calculation. You can do these calculations yourself or you can use span tables.

Live load determines stiffness and total load is used to determine strength. Boise cascade versa stud lvl sp 2650 1 7 wall framing is engineered for high quality builders who want stronger walls to resist wind loads stiffer walls for a solid feel and straight walls for a high quality. Menards offers a selection of quality engineered products. Lvl beams cost 3 to 12 per foot while wood beams run 5 to 20.

Formulas that determine the allowable span and size of a beam rely on a host of variables like species grade size deflection limit and type of load. Cut two snug fitting trimmers for each end of the beam. Wood beams lvl beam support beam 2x4x8 studs beam plywood 2x8x14 pt. With engineered wood you use both live load and dead load values.

Lsl is typically less expensive than other engineered wood beams. The easiest way to size engineered wood beams is to use the span tables that the manufacturer provides. Your local building inspections office or a structural engineer can verify the proper beam and post size needed to support the load.