Thread: BEAM SIZES

That span would be beyond most beam span tables in timber, so I think you would be looking at steel or manufactured beams like LVL. However a quick look at the LVL table suggests that 5.9m is the maximum bearer span with a floor load width of 1.2m. Your beam would be 360mm by 36mm.

I reckon RSJ would be your best bet. You're still probably looking at 200mm. Heavy and expensive...

Thanks for the quick response,I thought I may be in trouble

It might be worth running it past whoever your local building supplies is - they usually have software for designing these things. If I read the tables right, you could probably do it with HySpan joists, but you would need 4 at around 450mm centres. You still lose 300mm in headroom, but it's better than joists on top of a bearer.

Look here:

http://www.chhfuturebuild.com.au/use...hure_Mar05.pdf

That's a big span. Depending on how much weight you intended to stack on this shelf (always ends up being more than you planned for - well at my house anyway ) in timber you would have to use F17 hardwood in a bare minimum size of 290 x 45, 2/290 x 35 adequately spiked together would be better. You could probably get away with attaching 90 x 35 MGP10 pine joists @ 450 centres to the beam and a ledger on the back wall to support the flooring.

The other option would be to use a 150 PFC (parallel flange channel) or 150/18 UB (universal beam) for the front beam. You could possibly source this from a demolition place or steel recycling centre a lot cheaper than you could do it in timber. The other plus for using steel is the depth of the member is only about half what it would be in timber

Whatever you do you would need to ensure adequate bearing on the walls at the ends of the beam.

Thanks,plenty of advice,I would sit the beam on top of 100x100 posts and yes 90x35 at 450 centres would be the go,with some sort of chipboard sheets on that.
We are in a semi rural area and have a great local timber store,I was going to have a chat with them about sizes and maybe if any open trusses were around maybe old farm sheds being pulled down or the like.
All in the thinking stage,maybe that it becomes too costly for what I want.
Once again thanks and keep the grey matter churning.
I may rethink and make it not so wide,6.0 meters

295 x 65 GL17 (glue laminated beam) is loaded to 70% capacity with 13mm deflection (spanning 6800)

Anything else in engineered timber is a lot deeper (350+)

Can send you certification if required

Thanks rwbuild,I will now price up my project. Thanks to all.

6.8 m = 23 foot near enough = 12 x 2 @ F14.
Personally I'd prefer to run a 12 x 3 if it's going to be carrying any significant load, and would probably be looking for F17 or better because I'm somewhat paranoid and run a sawmill.

Originally Posted by John.G

6.8 m = 23 foot near enough = 12 x 2 @ F14.
Personally I'd prefer to run a 12 x 3 if it's going to be carrying any significant load, and would probably be looking for F17 or better because I'm somewhat paranoid and run a sawmill.

Checked this, fails miserably, the nearest you can get is 290 x 140 (4 @ 290 x 35) calculates at 99% load with 12mm deflection in F17

No combination in F14 works

Surely at 6.8m you can get an intermediate support between the vehicles and lessen the spans. If so it will greatly affect the deflections and timber sizes. I presume the vehicles will be parked nose in under the storage area?

Can you attach some vertical posts to the ceiling joists to hang the centre of the beam from?

Originally Posted by Mobyturns

Surely at 6.8m you can get an intermediate support between the vehicles and lessen the spans. If so it will greatly affect the deflections and timber sizes. I presume the vehicles will be parked nose in under the storage area?

Thanks all for your input,I have a boat on one side and a car on the other,with backing the boat in am trying to keep it all clear of any posts,but will look at that.
It would not be good to hang anything from the ceiling as it is trussed and not designed to take weight other than plaster etc.
This may be a project that will cost more than I am happy to bear.
Thanks again