Hey everyone,

I'm pushing my carpentry skills a little by building a small porch onto a
corner of my house.

I'm in the planning stage right now, and I'm trying to determine beam size.
My porch will be 8 feet deep, but 16 feet wide. I was hoping to get a beam
for the front 16 foot wide end of the roof that can be held up by just 2
posts, one in each corner. I've got a few tables from a deck building book
that does not have anything to span 16 feet.

I've talked to a couple of builders, and they tell me they just ask the
folks at the lumber yard. I'm looking to find a chart that will help me
determine for myself.

any suggestions?

-Thanks,

jeff

"John" wrote in message
...
Hey everyone,

I'm pushing my carpentry skills a little by building a small porch onto a
corner of my house.

I'm in the planning stage right now, and I'm trying to determine beam
size.
My porch will be 8 feet deep, but 16 feet wide. I was hoping to get a beam
for the front 16 foot wide end of the roof that can be held up by just 2
posts, one in each corner. I've got a few tables from a deck building book
that does not have anything to span 16 feet.

I've talked to a couple of builders, and they tell me they just ask the
folks at the lumber yard. I'm looking to find a chart that will help me
determine for myself.


My book did not have that table. You are wise to see it in writing before
proceeding.

You do need to consider the load on the beam including snow load in the
winter. I have a similar sized porch on a house that I own. Based on the
finished size of the beam, it can't be more than 2 2x12's spiked together
(more likely 2x10's) and covered with 1x stock. I have owned the house for
25 years and I would guess the porch has been there for 60 years. I
replaced the posts 10 years ago with 6x6 PT lumber.

A porch on another house 6x12 supports the roof load with a single 2x8. That
one I consider a little underbuilt but it has been there 20 years that I
know of.

Here is a Google search that may lead you to something in writing:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...&b tnG=Search

Colbyt

In article , "John" wrote:

I've talked to a couple of builders, and they tell me they just ask the
folks at the lumber yard. I'm looking to find a chart that will help me
determine for myself.

any suggestions?

Visit your local library and look for texts on mechanical engineering.
"Simplified Design of Structural Wood" and "Simplified Mechanics and
Strength of Materials," both by Harry Parker, are particularly comprehensive
_and_ comprehensible.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

Nobody ever left footprints in the sands of time by sitting on his butt.
And who wants to leave buttprints in the sands of time?