Questions tagged [engineering]
The engineering tag has no usage guidance.
82
questions
-1
votes
0answers
39 views
My boss gave me this chart of engineering symbols that I need to know I know some of them but I can't find the meaning for all of them please help [migrated]
My boss gave me these and said I need to know them all but I can't find out the meaning of a lot of them please help.
11
votes
6answers
7k views
I want to build an all metal, self-designed building. Are metal frame and joists really that infeasible?
I have been putting together plans for my dream house. First an architect friend of mine said she might help, but right now she's got too much business and she hasn't even had time to look at a ...
0
votes
1answer
76 views
What Are the Percentage Markings on this Stormwater Management Drawing?
We purchased a house in Arlington Co, Virginia, and there is a "Micro-bioretention facility" in the middle of the backyard, making the back yard almost useless for enjoyment. In order to ...
2
votes
2answers
157 views
Why is my main breaker tripping when I use a pool heater on a 50A breaker?
I have installed the 50 amp pool heater connected to the 50 amp GFCI breaker and is located outside. And I have connected to a 60 amp breaker at the panel. After a couple of seconds, when I turn on ...
1
vote
1answer
82 views
Strength of a 2 x 6 when 5.5" long hole is drilled through middle of the 1.5" face?
I haven't been able to find any information about the strength of a 2 x 6 acting as a joist or rafter when there are holes drilled through it in the middle of the 1.5" dimension, straight through ...
0
votes
1answer
147 views
Can I remove these walls?
I'm doing kitchen renovation and want to remove a few walls. Those are on the first floor of a 2 story house(no basement).
I've opened a few of them and did my best to provide all the pictures.
I ...
0
votes
0answers
47 views
T Shaped Pergola with Only Two Posts
I'm trying get some advice on whether this design is even possible and if so if my post size and joists are correct (ie safe/structurally sound). I have seen many cantilevered pergolas so I think this ...
0
votes
2answers
424 views
Steel H Beam Needed For Outdoor Deck
Question:
What size H Beams are needed?
Background:
I’m building a deck over our walkout basement. The basement is only 7’ tall, so the deck beams need to be as short as possible with the fewest ...
0
votes
0answers
31 views
Sizing a beam for small cabin
I'm in the planning stage of a cabin with a ~16'x16' footprint and I'm spec'ing out some of the structural elements. Looking for some second opinions or thoughts.
It's going to be a single-story with ...
0
votes
2answers
193 views
T connection of two Beams To Support 2nd Floor - Post or No Post?
Context: We are building plans for an extension to our home, on three levels. We're working with a technologist and will be getting an engineer since they have to stamp any plans. We want to have a ...
0
votes
0answers
30 views
maximum length of a unsloped drain pipe
I started a bathroom remodel in an 1899 house and it was a mess. Once I got down to the floor joists I pretty much halted the project because they had severed 2/5 of them and notched the rest of the ...
0
votes
0answers
19 views
How can I fit an opener for a rollup door into my metal shed?
I had a metal shop built and I would like to add a garage door opener for the roll-up doors but because of limited room between the top of the roll-up door and the roof, I am not sure if one will fit. ...
1
vote
1answer
53 views
Shearing a wall smart DYI project?
I'm pretty handy and can follow engineering plans, but wondering whether taking on a sheer wall project is something an advanced DYI'r should take on?
1
vote
2answers
47 views
tall service mast for remote aerial drop
I'm working with the local telecom provider to get internet access to a remote property in California.
There is a 5' tall 8x8 pressure treated post with an electric meter and some other equipment ...
11
votes
4answers
5k views
Will my wooden bridge withstand the weight of my small truck?
I am building a bridge across a small stream. I have 3 hemlock planks that are 24 feet long, and are 6 inches by 4 inches in dimension. The hemlock planks are positioned so that the 6 inch sides are ...
0
votes
1answer
49 views
Lateral bracing for steel beam
I’m installing a W16x26 steel beam, 20’ clear span underneath floor I-joists, 12” deep and 16”OC. The beam is plenty stout in terms of sheer and deflection but needs lateral bracing to account for ...
0
votes
0answers
95 views
Sizing wide flange I-Beam for 20" span
I am doing a barn renovation project (pacific NW, 98922), and need to take out a large load bearing wall and replace it with a beam. Was going to use an LVL (which I sized at about 5.5 x 18") ...
0
votes
1answer
73 views
Where can I get engineering info drafted for a custom header?
We’re building a shop ourselves and keep failing the shear inspection because we don’t have the engineering results to send to the city engineer. He said our wood supplier should be able to draft that ...
2
votes
1answer
134 views
Drywall is off, can this wall come out?
I know the most sure way to figure this out is to have an engineer look at this but am hoping to get some insight here from someone knowledgeable in this area.
We live in a condo and have a truss roof ...
1
vote
0answers
33 views
How do I design an ice house?
Where can I find how to design a cold room storage building?
I have a 12x12 shed that I use as cold storage for tree seedlings for about a month each spring. The present construction is 2x4 walls ...
0
votes
0answers
29 views
Concrete table legs
the wife wants me to build a concrete table that is 10' long by 2.5' wide and 3" thick with and overall height of 30". She would like 6"x6" tubing for legs, so I was wondering how thick tubing I will ...
-1
votes
2answers
2k views
Replacing ceiling joists with rafter ties higher up on the rafters
I'm trying to help my grandfather plan for a remodel of his 1950s home. The original structure is 24x24' with 6" rafters spaced about 20" apart on a 6/12 roof. He'd like to be able to have a "vaulted ...
2
votes
1answer
301 views
Is this wall load-bearing?
Want to remove wall (picture with x on wall) coming through kitchen horizontally (backside facing living room with photos on it). Would leave wall in place beside it. Removing would make a 15 ft walk ...
0
votes
1answer
1k views
Joist hanger too low?
I'm in the process of replacing the joists in a room in my 100 year old house (original members were too far gone with termite damage to do sistering). Original joists were true 2x8s with a 12 foot ...
7
votes
5answers
6k views
Repairing a notched floor joist
Situation
I was running some new gas pipe and I notched one floor joist and drilled a hole in another. I have now learned that this is not appropriate. This was in the forbidden zone of the middle 1/...
0
votes
0answers
343 views
Frame a jack stud without bottom plate?
I need to frame a small header in my kitchen exterior wall for a range hood exhaust because the 8" hole is dead center on a stud (of course). It's a 2 story 1941 house with 2x4s 16 on center.
The ...
0
votes
1answer
145 views
Simpson A-35 (framing angle) suitable for this application?
Would an A-35 be suitable for the rafter>top-plate connection shown here? Would I need one on both sides of a rafter, or just on one side? Existing structure (grey) is 12'x 18', 6" CMU block w/rebar, ...
0
votes
0answers
494 views
How to frame corner of staircase header for a stairwell opening? Do you use a hanger here?
I'm designing a staircase and was a little curious on how to frame out the stairwell opening where the header meats the existing joists. There will be a double 1.75"(x2) LVL header joined up against ...
0
votes
2answers
9k views
Steel beams for 22' interior clear span
I am building a ceiling under an existing roof, covering an area of 22' x 28'. This rectangle will be supported at the two ends of the 22' run, as well as, optionally, one or possibly two ends of the ...
0
votes
1answer
2k views
How much weight/many people can my rooftop deck hold? 2“x12”x20' joists, 16“ on center, 2”x4" framing under [closed]
How much weight/ How many people can my rooftop deck hold?
The joists are 2"x12" over 20ft, 16" on center
The framing under the deck is typical 2"x4" framing (living space), on a concrete ...
1
vote
1answer
267 views
Could I move a piano ALONE this way?
To move a piano from a first floor to another first floor, using a pickup truck, it seems like a ramp, a strong rope and some pulleys, and a furniture dolly would suffice. Plus a basketball and pump (...
1
vote
2answers
17k views
A-frame swing set max length of 4x4 beams
I am building an a-frame swing set for my kids using a 4x6 and 4x4 beams. We are using pre-built brackets to attach everything.
What I am wondering is, is there a max length that the 4x4 can safely ...
32
votes
10answers
17k views
How do I stop a creek from eroding my steep embankment?
Behind my house there is a very steep bank/slope that leads down to a decent-sized, slow moving creek about 10 - 12 ft wide. Unfortunately it meanders right behind my property at the base of this ...
1
vote
1answer
3k views
Load-Bearing Wall? Parallel to Joists, single story, but has attic supports [closed]
I've had multiple professionals look at this wall, and no one has been able to give me a clear answer (2 home inspectors, and 1 structural engineer). So I've come to the source of all truth, the ...
1
vote
2answers
7k views
Fix wobbly storage shelf
I just built this storage rack for my basement out of 2x4s and plywood. It is relatively stable but does have some front to back wobble. More than I would like. Is there a way to increase the ...
0
votes
1answer
54 views
Are there any join charts similar to span charts?
Are there any charts indicating what type of joints are stronger than others? For example, how would one determine which of the following joints is stronger? Intuitively I'd say longer cuts ...
0
votes
0answers
882 views
How to cantilever a roof beyond the end wall?
How can this roof be extended 16 inches beyond the end wall? Seems like it requires some 8 foot 2x4's but I'm unsure how to brace them to the truss. My way of thinking would put them above 4 inner ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
Is there any advantage to using larger stones in a free-standing dry stack wall?
I'm building a free-standing dry stack wall using ashlar scrap from a quarry (pieces of uniform thickness with completely flat top and bottom faces, but irregular sides):
Within each course of the ...
0
votes
2answers
1k views
Is a 15 foot tall pergola not feasible?
Looking for some structural wisdom :)
I have a deck that sits 6 feet off the ground, and I want to build a pergola whose "roof" (beams/slats) are 9 feet above the deck. So, from ground (grass) to ...
0
votes
1answer
76 views
Goal: make hardwood slats for a bed thin to flex, w/o degradation
My goal is to make hardwood slats for a 4' wide bed, (center support, so span is 24"), thin enough so my heavier parts flex, adding comfort so I can minimize mattress. (Ideally, pad will be 1 inch ...
0
votes
0answers
444 views
Mid span weight capacity
What is the mid-span (center of wood board) load bearing capacity of one 2”x12”x10’ setting on edge. I will be mounting a 1 ton chain hoist by a 2”x36” tow hook strap rated up to 3,300 lbs dead load ...
1
vote
1answer
656 views
Calculating time constant for storage-tank water heater
I was curious what the R-C time constant is, for a conventional storage-tank style electric water heater; I came up with an answer that seems very counter-intuitive.
("RC time constant" is the ...
0
votes
1answer
136 views
dig out and finish my crawl space into a basement
I have a house with a continuous concrete stem wall, and a sill plate seismically bolted to the foundation. It's on a hillside, and the north (downslope) is post and pier (not continuous). There are ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
Overkill from my Structural Engineer, can you check his drawings?
I have a cape I am moving the stairs and dormering the back. My engineer sent me these drawings. I think its overkill that he put HSS steel posts with w6x25(steel beam) across for the support. He has ...
1
vote
1answer
200 views
How do I determine what load values I need to use when using door/windows header sizing tables?
I'm designing the framing drawings for a building with window and door openings in a roof-bearing wall (no floors above) and I need to determine how thick my headers need to be. There are span tables ...
2
votes
4answers
19k views
Does shear strength increase with the number of fasteners?
Let's say I have screws with 1,000 lbs shear strength. If I add more screws, does the total shear strength of the joint increase? If I use 3 screws, then put a 2,000 lbs shear load on the joint, ...
1
vote
2answers
4k views
How are grade-level garage slabs typically connected to a basement wall?
When you have a basement wall that needs to join up to a garage slab at the top of the basement wall, how are the footings for the garage slab placed, and how does the garage slab attach to the ...
1
vote
1answer
429 views
Removing or replacing a post supporting a bolted joint in a long glue lam beam [closed]
We bought a home to remodel - and taking down a wall we found that our gluelam beam is actually two different beams, held together with some steel and bolts, and supported by a 4x6 vertical timber. We ...
1
vote
2answers
158 views
What kind of connector is this and where do I find it?
I recently bought some electric solenoid valves online, and I don't know what kind of electrical connector this is using, and where to get a female version.
Does anyone know where I can find the ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
Does beam orientation matter for structural engineering calculation values from wood supplier tables?
One can get values for load bearing of simple wood constructions and thus the right beam profile dimensions to choose from tables from wood supplies (e.g. http://www.merkleholz.de/en/Static-table-KVH-...
