Header size for load bearing wall

[Muhammad]

Asking for a friend.

I want to open up an interior load bearing wall and use a header beam as support.

The header will support floor load plus about 3' of a non load bearing wall above. So about 11' is supporting an open floor (bedroom) and 3' supporting that plus a divider wall.

Total bearing span is 14'8" and the length of the header beam is 14'2".

The span of the floor above is 16' and the floor joists are 16" on center 2x12.

Concrete slab foundation.

I've calculated the total load at just shy of 9,000lbs which means 600lbs plf.

That should put the beam size at 11 7/8 x3.5 with 3" bearing length with 24F-1.7E laminated lumber and have about 50lbs plf to spare.

Anybody wanna check my math?

 

[EddieWalker]

Engineers have figured it all out a long time ago. Just buy a glulam big enough to span your distance. The cost savings of going with something less isn't worth it. Shop 3-1/2x11-7/8-16'9" Glulam at McCoy's

 

[Muhammad]

Engineers have figured it all out a long time ago. Just buy a glulam big enough to span your distance. The cost savings of going with something less isn't worth it. Shop 3-1/2x11-7/8-16'9" Glulam at McCoy's

Yeah I'm with you. Found some load per foot charts that helped with the size laminated beam needed.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

And remember, in CA that glulam probably causes cancer....

 

[dieselscout80]

Yeah I'm with you. Found some load per foot charts that helped with the size laminated beam needed.

Can you post the links?

I have a project where I want to replace part of a wall with a beam on a single story home with rafters.

 

[Muhammad]

And remember, in CA that glulam probably causes cancer....

Don't worry, it'll be hiding behind drywall.

 

[Muhammad]

Can you post the links?

I have a project where I want to replace part of a wall with a beam on a single story home with rafters.

It will depend on the manufacturer and product line. From one engineered/laminated lumber to the next the load capacities will be different.

The supplier I found locally sells Parallam products. I am typing on my phone right now and can't link a pdf but searching for "parallam span table" should find it.

Here's one calculator that outputs a simple load but the lumber requirements aren't really useful: Wood Beam Calculator | What size do I need?

In an example similar to what you mentioned, if my open span (beam span) is 8 feet and the perpendicular clear span (loaded area) is 12 feet I'd enter those values, select roof (15psf) and ceiling (10psf) and I'd get a load of 2400lbs. I'd basically take the load requirements per code times square footage to arrive at the total load.

I then take the 2400 and divide by the beam span, so I'd need 300 lbs per linear foot of load capacity. Typical deflection for drywall or plaster is L/360 so a beam exceeding 300lbs per foot of load capacity at L/360 is needed. For this example most 1 3/4 x 9 1/4 laminated lumber would do with a 2.5" end bearing.

Of course the biggest issue with load bearing walls is knowing how much load they're bearing and making a sound calculation to determine the capacities necessary to bear the load. Sometimes it's pretty straightforward but other times it's complicated. To be safe you'd need to hire a structural engineer who may or may not agree with the calculations you arrive at on your own.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Don't worry, it'll be hiding behind drywall.

Lol,

 

[Alan W.]

Sorry I never used a table for lvl beams. I always just told the lumber yard the parameters I was working with and they had the manufacturer size them.
Thats what their engineers get paid for.
We just placed four under a baptistry at church that was sagging due to poor construction techniques.

 

[YanmarFever]

Muhammad,
I bought 3 glue lams off Craigs list for a fraction of what the lumber yard wanted for them.
They were even longer, so I cut them down to size.