I have a townhouse where I want to remove a load-bearing wall.
Today, the wall is 3.62 meters, but the opening will be 4.7 meters after the beam replacement.
There is a basement below with a concrete wall and a retaining beam for support. The wooden wall to be replaced consists of wooden studs measuring 45x95mm with center-to-center spacing of 60cm.
This wall helps support the floor joists on the upper floor, which are 45x195. Possibly 45x225.
Can you calculate what type of laminated or steel beam is needed, knowing that the current wall is supported by only 45x95mm with a center-to-center spacing of 60cm?
Most interested in knowing what beam and size will be required as we want it to be as unobtrusive as possible.
Today, the wall is 3.62 meters, but the opening will be 4.7 meters after the beam replacement.
There is a basement below with a concrete wall and a retaining beam for support. The wooden wall to be replaced consists of wooden studs measuring 45x95mm with center-to-center spacing of 60cm.
This wall helps support the floor joists on the upper floor, which are 45x195. Possibly 45x225.
Can you calculate what type of laminated or steel beam is needed, knowing that the current wall is supported by only 45x95mm with a center-to-center spacing of 60cm?
Most interested in knowing what beam and size will be required as we want it to be as unobtrusive as possible.
No. 45*95 doesn't really provide any clue about how much load is on the wall. They are not dimensioned in that way.
However, if you draw out how the studs are positioned in the floor structure on the upper floor, and any walls on it, you can start to unravel the dimensions for a load-bearing beam.
What is the ceiling height? I suspect it might be quite a high beam if it is going to be glulam.
However, if you draw out how the studs are positioned in the floor structure on the upper floor, and any walls on it, you can start to unravel the dimensions for a load-bearing beam.
What is the ceiling height? I suspect it might be quite a high beam if it is going to be glulam.
This is definitely something for an engineer to look at to be completely safe...
But.. do you know the center-to-center measurement of the floor joists? Given that the span is "only" 4.2m if you remove the wall, you might be lucky enough to avoid a beam if the floor joists are spaced at 300-400mm cc. Most likely, however, they're at cc 600, and then the upper floor will sag without any support underneath. If you absolutely want to avoid a beam, which would probably be quite substantial if it has to span 4.7m freely, there's the option to inset additional floor joists and install two or three rows of nogging to stiffen the construction, but that does involve quite a significant modification. Can you not consider a post/smaller wall in the middle of the doorway, so you get two smaller openings? Then it still seems reasonable with an H-beam to build down as little as possible.
But.. do you know the center-to-center measurement of the floor joists? Given that the span is "only" 4.2m if you remove the wall, you might be lucky enough to avoid a beam if the floor joists are spaced at 300-400mm cc. Most likely, however, they're at cc 600, and then the upper floor will sag without any support underneath. If you absolutely want to avoid a beam, which would probably be quite substantial if it has to span 4.7m freely, there's the option to inset additional floor joists and install two or three rows of nogging to stiffen the construction, but that does involve quite a significant modification. Can you not consider a post/smaller wall in the middle of the doorway, so you get two smaller openings? Then it still seems reasonable with an H-beam to build down as little as possible.
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...CwsTbrUEu36XN3ovQAJNOlh15rBjeehKK8Z4-EjcVh4Q$B buhu said:
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Moelven's calculation program for laminated beamsG globalnorrort said:
Unfortunately, no calculation programs help in this situation. You need to know what loads the beam will take. This requires a real load calculation, which is very complicated. Unfortunately, you need to get help from an engineer.
I am a trained engineer myself, and I cannot possibly say which beam is needed without seeing all the construction drawings. Or possibly come and look.
I am a trained engineer myself, and I cannot possibly say which beam is needed without seeing all the construction drawings. Or possibly come and look.