Laminated beam

[bones1]

Got the sizing specs back from Blue Linx tonight.They make the laminates for Georgia Pacific.Engineer says to use three 1 3/4x18 x32 ft lvl's and gave me a specific pattern for nailing them together at the ends.He says they will more than hold 2000lbs in the center when tripled up like this.Much easier to install putting them up one at a time too.Will have to price them to see if this is a better alternative than a steel beam.My real concern is the weight of the steel beam and what it will take to get it 12 ft up.

 

[bones1]

Got the laminated beam pricing today.3 1 3/4 x18x30 beams delivered will run $683.00.Next I will try to find a steel supplier in my area to price a steel beam.

 

[tuolumne]

...Much easier to install putting them up one at a time too...

Think 300 lb wet noodle
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Make sure that your laminations are perfectly straight before nailing them together. Any centerline deviantion will drastically reduce the critical buckling load. I would recommend a redundant diagonal brace at midspan as a minium. Luck.

Edit, I should have mentioned that the most I've paid for a similar length/weight steel beam in CT is about $275, and often less than $200 and these numbers include holes for blocking.

 

[MrJimi]

Got the laminated beam pricing today.3 1 3/4 x18x30 beams delivered will run $683.00.Next I will try to find a steel supplier in my area to price a steel beam.

I live in a large city and I picked up my steel beam and I don't think it was as high as your wood beam and I brought mine home on a 19 foot boat trailer with a red flag on back, worked real good
lots of $$ can be saved by getting it your self

 

[bones1]

Still waiting on a price of the steel beam you suggested.Will go from there.I like the idea of a trolley on the beam,don't know if I can adapt a trolley on a wood beam.There may be something available for that.

 

[MrJimi]

The beam I bought was 16 inches from top to bottom and it will support my second floor and it weighs 36 pounds per foot, I posted 31 pounds earlier but I was wrong.
What size beam will make your day? I can make a call here in Fl. and just ask how much for how long etc. It will give you an idea on how much to expect?
You do want to get the exact size you need and the trolly's will work fine on them,
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[schmism]

They make the laminates for Georgia Pacific.Engineer says to use three 1 3/4x18 x32 ft lvl's and gave me a specific pattern for nailing them together at the ends.

yes i belive i said a muliti ply LVL would work fine in this situation on post 4. as you can set each LVL individually keeping the weight managable and then connect them with a proper nailing pattern.

as for useing a trolly on the LVL, id inquire about useing some H channel on its side bolted to the bottom of the LVL at regular intervals. that would give you an I beam type bottom to put a regular trolly on.

if that isnt going to work (you cant get someone to spec it for you) then it should be fairly easy to fab up a steel sling that sits down over the top of the beem and allows you to attach a chain hoist to. you just have to manually shift it should you choose.

 

[bones1]

ill pull up my beam softwere and run some LVL for ya

my softwere says a 30' 2 ply 2x14 (1.75x13.875) Versa-lam 2800-2.0 will hold 3000lbs at center span at 97% capacity.

you might check with your local lumber yard as to what kind of LVL they can get. Working in the industry i can tell you it goes all the way to (at least) 2' deep
note at full load (3K) look for almost 2" of deflection. (1.92" says my softwere)

oh must add disclamer, the above is for refrance only... if you hang the empire state building from it and it crashes down on your head, dont come looking for me

schmism, do you think this is more than needed judging from your software?.Three 1 3/4x18 x32 ft lvl's .Your calcs show 2 and only 14 deep.I'm thinking too much

MRJIMI, thanks. If I don't hear back from them tomorrow I'll take you up on that quote.It is a w10x22x30 ft.

Tuolumne, anywhere near $275 and the steel wins.

 

[MrJimi]

Bones, how tall and long do ya want the steel beam and dont forget it is termite proof
for instance mine is 16 inches tall and 24 feet 4 inches long and it is capable of holding 52,000 pounds in the middle !! and, yes, I build stuff overkill

 

[have_blue]

If cost is a factor, think about a steel-wood hybrid beam.

An inexpensive 1/4" thick steel strap along the bottom of a wooden beam would make it very strong. Also, a pair of 30' 2x6's with 1/8" steel sandwiched in between would be super strong and rigid. Slow cure epoxy is great for laminating wood to steel, and Gorilla Glue isn't bad either.