27
votes
Is a roofing delivery truck likely to crack my driveway slab?
Unless your home is a 20 bedroom mansion I would simply tell them to keep that off your driveway period. You can't tell what load it will take because it depends how packed it still is, what ...
- 46.2k
23
votes
Is this wall load bearing? Blueprints and photos attached
Disclaimer: I'm not a structural engineer, nor should you believe the word of a internet stranger. Contact a local structural engineer to take a look so you don't bring the house down.
A few details ...
- 8,098
12
votes
When running a bigger wire to deal with voltage drop on a 240V circuit, do I now need to run a neutral as well?
My question is now that I'm running a 30 amp wire and only using 20 amps, do I need to run a neutral to send the unused 10 amps back the supply?
There is no 'unused 10 A'.
However (and this is ...
- 584
9
votes
When running a bigger wire to deal with voltage drop on a 240V circuit, do I now need to run a neutral as well?
There is no "unused" 10 amps. You use the #10 wire because it's big enough to handle the 20 amps without overheating and in your case, without dropping the voltage.
If you are running ...
- 16.9k
8
votes
Garage loft max loading
The Code requires trusses be designed to support the Live Load (snow loads, etc.) plus Dead Loads (lumber supporting the roof and ceiling) plus 10 psf Live Load in the ceiling. (10 psf is not much… ...
- 3,610
8
votes
When running a bigger wire to deal with voltage drop on a 240V circuit, do I now need to run a neutral as well?
A 30A circuit does not push 30 amps. It pushes 230 volts, and the appliance draws however much it needs. As such, no need to return any extra amps... they just won't be taken.
The circuit breaker is ...
7
votes
Is this wall load bearing? Blueprints and photos attached
I'd bet it is bearing.
The picture shows a wall with a large opening and a door. I'll assume the plan view is the second floor plan.
In the picture you can see your knotty pine running parallel ...
- 7,956
7
votes
Accepted
Will a typical house floor carry a 300 lb. safe?
Depends.
We always add 2 extra joists under refrigerators just because kitchen floors often have tile flooring and cannot sag without cracking the tile.
However, depending on the span of the joists, ...
- 3,610
7
votes
Is this wall removal safe?
No one here can tell you it's safe. That has to be done by a structural engineer doing a site visit and examining the building plans. If you're terrified, go to your home store and rent a few ceiling ...
- 53.2k
6
votes
When running a bigger wire to deal with voltage drop on a 240V circuit, do I now need to run a neutral as well?
As others have said, there is no "unused" power to return. Think about it on a simple 15 amp 120v circuit: You plug a 100 watt lamp into it that uses just under an amp (old style ...
- 14.1k
4
votes
Accepted
Can I remove framing members forming a wall below a load bearing beam?
It's highly unlikely that there's a full beam in that wall. There's probably a doubled 2x10 header over the opening. Plan on installing a 3-1/2" by 14" LVL beam (or steel) to span that distance (after ...
- 104k
4
votes
Is this wall load bearing? Blueprints and photos attached
You need a layout of the ceiling joists to determined if it is load bearing. However, I would highly lean towards believing that it is a structural support wall. The exposed beam that runs in the span ...
4
votes
Is this wall load bearing? Blueprints and photos attached
Like most have already said, I also believe it's a load bearing wall.. So for all the clues others have mentioned that it's a bearing wall, I also wanna add, and this may or may not actually be ...
- 41
4
votes
Is it normal to have your load bearing wall not line up with your basement support posts and joist?
Yes, it’s acceptable to have bearing walls NOT align vertically, provided: 1) the walls are less distance apart than the depth of the joists, or 2) the side that has the upper bearing wall rests on a ...
- 22.5k
3
votes
Accepted
Load-Bearing Wall? Parallel to Joists, single story, but has attic supports
Since your front section at one time was a garage the there was a need to provide a fire break wall between the garage and the living portion of the house. Since the garage undoubtedly had an open ...
- 61.1k
3
votes
Accepted
How to fasten one end of a rope to multiple points so as to distribute load equally?
You can use a concept from rock climbing here. There are methods of attaching to multiple anchors that are meant to distribute the load to three anchors, such as a cordalette:
You can search ...
- 24.3k
3
votes
my house has old warped joists. Is joist blocking safe?
I would sister several of the joists, then add solid blocking in each span. The blocking might not be critical, but the ceiling is now open so why not? Solid blocking does not need strapping across ...
- 1,940
3
votes
Is this wall load bearing? Blueprints and photos attached
Observations studying the drawing, 100% Load Bearing.
Section A will confirm further. Structural engineers will always span the shortest distance for timber joists. Taking out that wall, is ...
- 31
3
votes
simple niche/nook shelf: boards resting on screws
I would use 3/16 Tapcon screws. (Use 5/32 masonry bit.) The Tapcon screws are thread hardened specifically for use in masonry materials. The hardened thread will hold up better than a wood or machine ...
- 988
3
votes
Accepted
Shower divider wall – load bearing?
Trusses are self-supporting. So if what you're showing in the first photo is indeed the bottom span of a truss, and it's supported on both ends, then no, that is not a load bearing wall.
If there is ...
- 20.3k
3
votes
Can my floor hold 2100 lbs of dead load?
You need a site visit from a qualified person to determine if your floor system can safely carry the load, but given the span you gave and the information here, the answer is no.
However, you may be ...
- 1,428
3
votes
Can I skimp on the jack stud?
Understand the constraints of the existing framing. I'd have probably kept the new vertical 2x4 you added 3.5" shorter (along with the plywood spacer you added), and made the header stick out 3.5&...
- 403
3
votes
Splicing load side of GFCI receptacle
Yes. That's what pigtails are for. No problem at all.
Incoming (from panel) wires -> LINE side of GFCI
Outgoing wires - short pigtails (colors matching the outgoing wires, normally black & ...
3
votes
Accepted
Hang 250 kg (550 lbs) on concrete wall
I'm not sure I understand your concern about putting it on a pedestal. Doesn't your plumbing need to match up with the inlet/outlet on the heater no matter how you mount the thing?
If you have fixed ...
- 29.1k
3
votes
Total max weight hung on single stud
You didn’t give us all the info we need, but I’ll make some assumptions and you tell me if I’m wrong.
Calculating the maximum load depends on 1) species and grade, 2) length of stud, 3) fastened to ...
- 3,610
3
votes
Vertical L-Shaped Desk to support 3 monitors without attaching to wall
Your plan should work quite well assuming you do not mount your monitors too high and make it all top-heavy. I also assume this will be pushed up against a wall so that it cannot easily fall backwards ...
- 10k
3
votes
Vertical L-Shaped Desk to support 3 monitors without attaching to wall
The structural question is: what will provide support for the moment-force of the monitors hanging off the backboard?
You can provide torque support for upper back-panel, by means of
side panels as ...
- 10.2k
3
votes
Will a typical house floor carry a 300 lb. safe?
Assuming all the other advice here leads you to the conclusion that your home won't collapse from adding this safe, you should protect your floor from surface damage.
Put a piece of 3/4 inch plywood ...
- 16.9k
3
votes
Garage loft max loading
From the second picture and your opening statement, For permitting purposes, I think the structure was categorized as the "garage with attic for other uses (non-sleeping)", and designed ...
- 3,261
3
votes
Garage loft max loading
Your span of 24 ft is slightly smaller than my house's 27 ft span, but your photos indicate the truss dimensions are similar to mine.
My attic trusses are rated for 40ft psf live and 10ft psf dead ...
- 31
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