"Buell Boy" wrote in message
ups.com...
I've read a number of articles on this. One method said to use 1/2" PT
plywood 10" wide triangular shims every 24 inches to prevent water from
getting between the beams, and to let it dry out by the PT Plywood.

This seems odd to me since this would tend to weaken the beam? Does
anyone really do this? ALso I would thin kPT Plywood would be a lot
less durable than 2x10 PT? Is it really practical?


Also, let's say my header is 12' long. What carriage bolt spacing
should I use? I was thinking 24", staggered on-on-top, one-on-bottom?

Thanks!
BX1

Is this supposd to be an exterior beam? If so flash the top and forget about
the shims.
If it is not exposed to weather forget about the shims.
If the 2x10s are placed side by side (oriented vertically) then it hardly
matters at all whether they are attached to each other. If they are properly
blocked to prevent rotation and buckling the there is no force that is
acting to push them apart. Nails should be fine to hold them together. I
think that the UBC has some information about required nailing. Check that
out.

-j