bearing housing forum

Steel vs LVL beams to replace a load bearing wall

Tacobum , Monday, 9th of August 2010 11:44:46 AM

we are renovating the ground floor of a 3 story house built ca.1835 and we 
Tacobum
wanna open up the space by removing a load bearing wall that runs the 
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width of the house down the centre.The house is 40' x 24' we would be 
Joined: Saturday, 8th of May 2010, 17:45:06
putting the beam in the 24'.Any ideas as to costs?What is better - steel 
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or LVL?Any input is appreciated.
 
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sugarsnukemz , Tuesday, 10th of August 2010 07:40:05 AM

You will need a structural engineer to calculate what you will  
sugarsnukemz
need. There is no way safe to calculate the load of the two top stories  
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and what you will need for a bearing surface beneath the carrying beam.  
Joined: Friday, 28th of May 2010, 11:43:37
One or two stories would be easy to ball park a figure.Steel will be  
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cheaper than an LVL..At a guess I'd say you will need a 16''x8''x1/2''  
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web.If this house has it is old plaster it weights a whole bunch. Do you  
have a friend who is an engineer?? Lucky if you do..  
 
 
 
 
 
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Beautiful , Wednesday, 11th of August 2010 02:49:06 PM

Given the age of the house and the liability you're assuming,  
Beautiful
the investment of a call to your nearest school of architecture to get a  
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qualified opinion is well worth it. I wouldn't leave that kind of question  
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to an anonymous board where anyone can pretend to be anything without any  
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way for you to verify it. Go for a real expert who won't cost you an arm  
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and a leg.an architecture professor with undeniable qualifications.  
 
 
 
 
 
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chiquita , Thursday, 12th of August 2010 06:24:17 AM

The price of steel is way up. Price of lumber is at a 5 year  
chiquita
low. Most joist and beam companies will quote LVL. They should be cheaper,  
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easier to finish etc.  
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Better? Doesn't matter if it is engineered to handle the load. Material  
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cost will be minimal compared to the installation.  
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