Open up exterior wall, beam?

[Eleonora1978]

We are going to open up a load-bearing exterior wall with a wood frame and install two large window sections that can be opened. Width of the windows is approximately 1950 mm. See image. What dimension of wooden beam is needed? Kind regards, Agneta

 

[bossespecial]

In order to calculate it, a bit more information is required. Drawings, plans and sections, where the house is located, roofing, whether there is an upper floor, etc. If you don't have drawings, simple sketches and pictures may work.

 

[Eleonora1978]

Hello! See the image of the outside of the house where we plan to open up, where there is currently a window and a patio door next to it. Wooden house with attic above. We have a hipped roof. The house is located in Nacka in Stockholm.

 

[bossespecial]

How wide is the house?

 

[Eleonora1978]

Hello approximately 17–18 meters wide

 

[bossespecial]

Would you like to draw a simple sketch? A plan and section with some measurements?

 

[Eleonora1978]

Have a drawing from the previous plan when we were going to build out a glass section where we now choose to just install large windows.

 

[Eleonora1978]

Have a design from a previous plan when we were going to extend a glass section where we now choose to just install large windows.

Have a design from a previous plan when we were going to extend a glass section where we now choose to just install large windows.

 

[Eleonora1978]

Have been sketching how it should look where we will open up for large windows. 1900 mm per window section. Today we have a smaller patio door and a smaller window in these places.

 

[justusandersson]

I don't know what @bossespecial thinks, but I can imagine ending up with a glulam beam with dimensions 90x225. The spans are small, but beams over doors are sensitive things. The deflection must be limited.

 

[Eleonora1978]

Thank you. Should one ask a constructor to calculate it? The municipality has not required anything, but I have read that one might need a construction drawing for safety reasons for the insurance company?

 

[bossespecial]

I don't know what @bossespecial thinks but I can imagine ending up with a glulam beam with the dimensions 90x225. The spans are small, but beams over doors are sensitive things. The deflection must be limited.

That doesn't sound entirely unreasonable

 

[16386]

Thank you. Should one ask an engineer to calculate it? The municipality hasn't required anything, but I've read that you might need a construction drawing for safety reasons for the insurance company?

That the urban planning office wouldn't want construction drawings for an alteration in a load-bearing structure that also requires a building permit, not just a building notification, sounds strange to me. But if that’s the case, for your own sake, it's probably still a good idea to hire an engineer, so that you (and future owners) are sure it’s done correctly.

 

[Eleonora1978]

We have received a building permit from the municipality for this. But they have not requested construction drawings.

 

[Olf Oggler]

How did it go with this? What kind of beams/reinforcements were used above the doors?