Hello
I would appreciate some tips on how we can proceed at home. We have removed the floor joists to create space in the living room, but kept a loft walkway on the second floor, as we have rooms on either side of the house. The loft walkway is currently supported by a post in the middle. But we would like to remove it. The span is five meters, so a steel beam would probably be best, across the floor joists. Especially since the ceiling height under the loft walkway is just under 2.2 meters. The only load is foot traffic on the loft walkway.
In addition, two spiral ducts, one 100mm & one 125mm, are to run along the beam. The spiral ducts will run side by side. Not above & below each other.
My first thought was to let two glued-laminated beams run parallel with the ducts in between as a channel. There will also be a lot of flexible ducts in the channel.
But a steel beam might be better. The question is which type to use if so. Can you use a U-beam, let it function as a channel, & bolt beam hangers on the side to attach the floor joists? If so, what dimension? Are there tables for this? Or do companies that sell steel beams help with the calculation?
I would appreciate some tips on how we can proceed at home. We have removed the floor joists to create space in the living room, but kept a loft walkway on the second floor, as we have rooms on either side of the house. The loft walkway is currently supported by a post in the middle. But we would like to remove it. The span is five meters, so a steel beam would probably be best, across the floor joists. Especially since the ceiling height under the loft walkway is just under 2.2 meters. The only load is foot traffic on the loft walkway.
In addition, two spiral ducts, one 100mm & one 125mm, are to run along the beam. The spiral ducts will run side by side. Not above & below each other.
My first thought was to let two glued-laminated beams run parallel with the ducts in between as a channel. There will also be a lot of flexible ducts in the channel.
But a steel beam might be better. The question is which type to use if so. Can you use a U-beam, let it function as a channel, & bolt beam hangers on the side to attach the floor joists? If so, what dimension? Are there tables for this? Or do companies that sell steel beams help with the calculation?
You need to hire a structural engineer to come out and inspect the site. Considering the very serious incidents that can occur with a miscalculation etc., it is not appropriate to rely on what someone says online.
Thank you, Birgitt. But the worst that can happen in our case is that we get too much deflection.
It seems like I will build a beam channel with a 90x315 and a 45x315 glulam beam. And two 45x220 in between. I'm thinking that if you glue and screw it together on the floor with a small spacer underneath in the middle, it should lock into a "sad mouth" and then fall to straight (wave), or at least not so much "happy mouth"
Any thoughts? 🙂
It seems like I will build a beam channel with a 90x315 and a 45x315 glulam beam. And two 45x220 in between. I'm thinking that if you glue and screw it together on the floor with a small spacer underneath in the middle, it should lock into a "sad mouth" and then fall to straight (wave), or at least not so much "happy mouth"
Any thoughts? 🙂