Switch off for windows

[Janus82]

We are planning to rebuild one of our exterior walls and rearrange some windows and patio doors, and I'm now considering how I should support the wall when the windows will be larger than the existing ones.

Currently, there is a patio door with a module width of 8 that will be replaced by a window with a module width of 13. Directly above the door, there is a rafter, so somehow the load has already been distributed to the sides. I am considering installing a glulam beam, for example, 56x225 above the window and hoping that will suffice. Does that sound like a reasonable dimension, or should I opt for a stronger beam for support?

 

[norrbottenstorpet]

It depends on what load it needs to carry, which in turn depends on the house's height/construction/self-weight and the dimensioning snow zone.

If you have a one-story house and don’t live with 5.5 m of snow on the roof, that beam should hold well.

http://www.traguiden.se/TGtemplates/popup1spalt.aspx?id=702&contextPage=1465

 

[Janus82]

He who seeks shall find.
http://epi.byggmax.com/Documents/Produktspec/PDF%20Limtr%C3%A4/Produktinformation%20Limtr%C3%A4.pdf

So it seems that I should go up to 66x315 to be on the safe side. But then I should be able to have an opening of a full 2m.