Ron Van
Well-Known Member
Hello. I’m planning on removing a section of a load bearing wall in our house (we moved into this house about a year ago). Trying to figure this house out is truly a mystery since it was built in several stages over a number of years.
The wall to be removed originally was an exterior wall built in 1970 but somewhere in time, a 20’ by 27’ addition was added on to the house outside of this wall. There were also additions added on other sides of the house as well. At some time, the roof, including the truss system, was removed and a new roof truss system was installed over the entire house bonding it all together.
The question I have is about finding a load table for a Counter beam. I have tables for Hanging beams, strutting beams, combination Hanging and strutting beams, and concealed beams but I can’t find one for Counter beams.
Here are my facts:
Attached to my Counter Beam will be one concealed beam (A), and two Hanging beams (B and C). There is also a strut above Beam “A” supporting the roof peak.
My Counter beam will be 14’ long (ideally) and be supported at both ends but if need be, my wife has approved another support post in the middle of the house splitting my proposed counter beam at 11’ on one side and 3’ on the other. This additional support post would be under concealed Beam “A” and also nearly under the strut supporting the roof Peak. Since the wall I want to remove was originally an exterior wall, there is a foundation wall under it for the end posts to sit on.
Code in my area says:
Ground Snow Load - 10 Pounds Per Square Foot
Wind Speed 90 Miles Per Hour
Seismic Design Category - C
Subject To Damage From:
Weathering - Moderate
I’m going to say the proposed counter beam will be, conservatively, supporting 222 SqFt of roof (probably less) at (local code supplied) 10lbs/sqft snow load equals 2,220 lbs roof load. The weight is unequally applied to the beam at three points. Most of the weight comes from concealed Beam “A” which is closest to an end post (or could be above optional wife approved post).
Questions:
1. Does anyone have a table or formula for sizing this type counterbeam? I was thinking two 2X12s sandwiched together. Is that enough?
2. Is the optional wife approved post necessary?
The wall to be removed originally was an exterior wall built in 1970 but somewhere in time, a 20’ by 27’ addition was added on to the house outside of this wall. There were also additions added on other sides of the house as well. At some time, the roof, including the truss system, was removed and a new roof truss system was installed over the entire house bonding it all together.
The question I have is about finding a load table for a Counter beam. I have tables for Hanging beams, strutting beams, combination Hanging and strutting beams, and concealed beams but I can’t find one for Counter beams.
Here are my facts:
Attached to my Counter Beam will be one concealed beam (A), and two Hanging beams (B and C). There is also a strut above Beam “A” supporting the roof peak.
My Counter beam will be 14’ long (ideally) and be supported at both ends but if need be, my wife has approved another support post in the middle of the house splitting my proposed counter beam at 11’ on one side and 3’ on the other. This additional support post would be under concealed Beam “A” and also nearly under the strut supporting the roof Peak. Since the wall I want to remove was originally an exterior wall, there is a foundation wall under it for the end posts to sit on.
Code in my area says:
Ground Snow Load - 10 Pounds Per Square Foot
Wind Speed 90 Miles Per Hour
Seismic Design Category - C
Subject To Damage From:
Weathering - Moderate
I’m going to say the proposed counter beam will be, conservatively, supporting 222 SqFt of roof (probably less) at (local code supplied) 10lbs/sqft snow load equals 2,220 lbs roof load. The weight is unequally applied to the beam at three points. Most of the weight comes from concealed Beam “A” which is closest to an end post (or could be above optional wife approved post).
Questions:
1. Does anyone have a table or formula for sizing this type counterbeam? I was thinking two 2X12s sandwiched together. Is that enough?
2. Is the optional wife approved post necessary?