[Shop-talk] looking for wooden beam suggestions

[Doug Braun]

How about two strips of 3-1/2" wide steel: one across the top, and one
across the bottom?

Doug

On Fri, Jun 15, 2012 at 11:01 AM, Pat Horne <pat at hornesystemstx.com> wrote:

> List,
>
> I have an 8' roof overhang on my shop building that is starting to bow
> from the load. It is supported by a 5-1/2"x3-1/2" wood beam across two
> posts, 14' apart. The roof is standard 7/16 ply with one layer of shingles
> on it; the framing is 2x4. The beam that is in there now is a double 2x6
> with a plywood filler to bring it out to 3-1/2". I can grab the center of
> the beam and move it up and down over one inch. The existing beam is
> standard yellow pine and is less than a year old. I know the rule of thumb
> is 1/2" if beam height for every foot of span, so this beam is too small
> for the 14' span.
>
> The problem is that I can't put in a taller beam because of other
> clearances, so I will have to go to a different type of beam that will
> still be 5-1/2" tall by 3-1/12" thick. I am considering an LVL (laminated
> beam) - $100, steel Channel (8.5 lbs/ft.) - $230, but  I would like to keep
> the price down.
>
> We are located in central Texas, so snow load is not a consideration. We
> do get fairly high winds here, but nothing that has caused the overhang to
> lift off or collapse.
>
> I have not been able to find any information on sandwiching a thin piece
> of  steel between the 2x4's to stiffen it. Anyone have any experience with
> this kind of beam? I figure that if the steel plate is kept flat it should
> have pretty good resistance to bending.