Remodel Framing-Load Paths, Beam Types, and Point Loads: Building Resilience (episode 3)

www.protradecraft.com | SUBSCRIBE, please!
/ @protradecraft
Transferring different loads through many engineered lumber beams is central to remodel framing
PLAN OF ATTACK: Tracing the load path and redirecting it
We have three ways that we can do that (make a structural post from multiple studs).
Option 1 to make a structural post from multiple studs: Remove all of the studs and replace them with a glulam or PSL column.
Option 2 to make a structural post from multiple studs: Make a giant gusset plate with construction adhesive and nails.
Option 3 to make a structural post from multiple studs: Drive 12-inch structural fasteners from Simpson Strong Drive through all of the studs and into the PSL post. Every eight inches staggered, we’re going to have one of these beauties, kind of like magic.
JOBSITE KNOWHOW: Engineered lumber beam types
So everyone's heard of OSB and Plywood, which are laminated sheets of wood or chips of wood that are squished and glued together.
But we also use engineered wood products in our structural work. We’ve got 2x4s and 2x6s, but then we’ve got the fun stuff, which is LVL, PSL, and GluLam… and this is a piece of steel because steel has a purpose and a modern carpenter has to work with steel.
PSLs are parallel strand lumber
They take these long strands and line them, up so they're going the same direction and then they glue them up. The moisture content is very low, so they are dimensionally stable. What makes PSLs particularly useful is that they are strong in multiple directions.
PSLs really great for columns, we use them a lot for posts. In fact, all of the major posts on this job are made from PSL. You can also use them horizontally in either direction.
Depending on what your engineer is looking for, PSL is a very flexible and dynamic material.
GluLams are really like a bunch of 2x material that’s been glued up
GluLam beams are laminated glued-up pieces of wood. GluLams are actually stronger when used as a post to resist the downward force; not as strong in some of the other dimensions.
Where GluLam beams are particularly useful is when we’re doing really large beams where the top of the beam has different requirements than the bottom of the beam.
When we engineer a GluLam, we can design it so there’s a top and a bottom, and they can achieve some pretty incredible spans.
LVL is Laminated Veneer Lumber
This is what we often use in header material, so LVLs are probably our most common beam material. So, the PSL was made from strands, LVL is made from veneer, this is like plywood, really.
Because it’s laminated veneer, we can manufacture really long lengths-kind of infinite lengths. Both PSLs and LVLs are manufactured into what are called billets-giant pieces that are then cut down into the sizes that they need.
LVLs are really strong horizontally in the upright direction, not so much laying flat.
When we have a lot of weight or a big span and we don’t want deflection, we use steel I-beams
Steel I-beams can achieve in seven or eight inches what an LVL or GluLam might need 12 or 14 inches.
If you don’t want a header to stick down from the ceiling, steel is a great option.
We’re also using steel in a lot of other places and a lot of it is a lot smaller. We’re using structural screws from Simpson, Post bases that resist lateral (sideways) movement as well as upward movement. These rafter hangers tie the bottom end of a rafter to the side of a beam.
Normally when we think about transferring loads, we think of a post holding up a beam, which then has joists or rafters on top of it.
Joists can also hang below beams with specialized joist hangers. This is useful, again, when you don’t want a beam that sticks down into the room. In this case, I’m going to put a beam in the attic and hang the floor joists below it, and the beam will drop down to a bearing wall and a post.
-Building Resilience is a production of the SGC Horizon Media Network
Learn More:
www.protradecr...
Instagram: protradecraft
Facebook: / protradecraft
Twitter: @TradeCraftsman | tradecraftsman
Pinterest: @ProTradeCraft | pinterest.com/ProTradeCraft