27
votes
Is it safe to screw into a single support beam holding up an entire house?
First that post is not carrying the load of the whole house. The beam is and the beam is attached on both sides. The post's job is to keep the beam from sagging and act as a point load.
I would ...
- 47.3k
18
votes
Does my loft bed need diagonal supports?
I'm posting this as an answer because I know I will exceed the limit for a comment. I've built about 3 dozen bunk beds for a church retreat facility. They were all red oak. The side rails and the ...
- 22.4k
17
votes
Accepted
Do ceiling joists need to rest on cross beams?
This is fine. It's a wooden open web truss system.
The weight is transferred to the column at the one top point. The lower bar and diagonal bracing are to prevent the top bar from sagging over a ...
- 1,116
15
votes
How do you mount conduit to a wall so that it stands off a standard box distance?
If you don't want to get a conduit bender, you can use conduit hanger clamps like the one shown below from Home Depot. The clamp fastens to the wall and holds the conduit away from the wall.
- 72.6k
13
votes
How can I temporarily support a ceiling with embedded heat tubing?
It's just not necessary to support the framing from above. Temporary walls are put up under drywall all the time, and the gypsum doesn't crush. Actual plaster certainly won't.
Just use a 2x6 or wider ...
- 120k
12
votes
How to secure these wooden porch posts to the concrete slab?
There are many kinds of post bases available which are designed for exactly this purpose. You want something attached to the concrete. You'd do that with concrete screws and a hammer drill.
"...
- 120k
11
votes
Is it safe to screw into a single support beam holding up an entire house?
At least in the area where I live, that type of support post is used when a house is modified (wall was removed, to prop up a sagging beam, etc). If the house was designed to have a support post ...
- 1,505
11
votes
How do you mount conduit to a wall so that it stands off a standard box distance?
If you're using EMT and if wall-to-box offsets are the only thing you want to do (which is unlikely) and if you really don't want to learn to use a bender (or you're getting there, but slowly, and the ...
- 29.1k
9
votes
Is it safe to screw into a single support beam holding up an entire house?
Notice the post is not just supporting the beam, it’s holding up ends of the boards that make up the beam!
Would strongly recommend consulting an engineer ASAP and having the beam supported correctly. ...
- 416
8
votes
Accepted
Support Beam Splitting
This is not meant to be an authoritative answer, but I have worked in many homes and buildings of similar age and you almost always see some cracks in the beams, they are usually there for decades, in ...
- 24.7k
8
votes
Accepted
How do you mount conduit to a wall so that it stands off a standard box distance?
1\2" EMT lends itself to bending very easily. And incorrect bends are easy to "adjust." A little practice with a bender will have you making great box offset bends in no time.
I will ...
- 96
7
votes
Contact surface between subfloor and joists
Just add (nail, screw, and/or glue) additional framing material to the side face of the joist to provide more bearing area for the subfloor.
- 176k
7
votes
Can I use fine-thread drywall screws with wood framing?
It's fine. They are primarily intended for metal studs but they will work fine in wood. Think about the force required to physically pull out one screw - even a fine threaded screw. Now given the fact ...
- 294
7
votes
Can this post supporting a roof beam structure be moved?
The vertical bit is called the post, which is holding the horizontal beam. Any such changes require consultation with the original architect/engineer or a new engineer. This needs to be stressed, ...
- 2,542
7
votes
Accepted
Can this post supporting a roof beam structure be moved?
Wow... I totally missed the detail that the post is to be moved not removed. Much of this answer is still appropriate but changes to relocating the "green" beam instead of beefing up the &...
- 38.1k
6
votes
Accepted
How to reinforce bowing foundation?
If you want to install it yourself, great. But I suggest you start by having an engineer look at the application and calculate your requirements. Could be well worth the investment.
- 569
6
votes
How much weight can lagbolts hold, or how can I support this piece of slate on a wall?
Shear strength of the hardware isn't going to be a real concern. A single 1/4" Grade 5 lag bolt, in a configuration like this, will fail at roughly 13,000 lbs. Even 1/8" lag screws (well down into "...
- 14k
6
votes
How to support 20 feet of 4 inch pvc drain pipe horizontally along a concrete wall?
Any of the pipe hangers available at your local big-box home improvement store are designed to support a full pipe. They would be just decorations if they didn't...
Pick a type that seems simplest to ...
- 38.1k
5
votes
Accepted
does this look like an up to code support beam?
For an 8.5' span I'd say no. The purpose of the jack studs isn't just to hold up the header - it also helps distribute the load more evenly to the foundation. For that wide of a span the IRC calls ...
- 6,875
5
votes
Accepted
How can I route an in wall dryer vent through double top plate?
2015 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE
CHAPTER 15
EXHAUST SYSTEMS
M1502.2 Independent exhaust systems.
Dryer exhaust systems shall be independent of all other systems and shall
convey the moisture to ...
5
votes
Choosing the correct LVL beam size
I see this question often in many forms so I will do my best to outline what is needed for a load calculation in general. Of course every house and roof is different so modify to get better results. ...
- 650
5
votes
Accepted
How to calculate sizing for treehouse footing?
Hmmm...no digging in the ground and no concrete.
Sounds like the four perimeter beams will be your foundation. They’ll need to be treated for ground contact (pressure treated) as you indicate.
...
- 22.8k
5
votes
Can I safely remove stringer in garage?
Unless there is more to this than you've shown, this was added AFTER construction to permit the installation of the squat rack. As such, it's NOT a part of the garage's structure and so removing it ...
- 23k
5
votes
Is there any way to stop a low-profile desk from racking back and forth?
The "very minimalist look" is a bit too minimalist for boring old function. You may regret "living with it" when it fails and a hunk of rock lands on your foot (or other body part),...
- 176k
5
votes
Accepted
Rust at welded steel beam joint
This looks like surface rust so you'll want to remove it. There are many rust removal products like Naval Jelly,etc. but I've found White vinegar to be just as good. Saturate the area with the vinegar ...
- 72.6k
5
votes
Does my loft bed need diagonal supports?
Did something similar once.
Legs were four 2x4 and rails 2x8, cross pieces 2x6 and cutouts in the legs (1” deep) so that the wood supported the rails just held secure by bolts.
Used by 2 adults for “...
- 24.9k
5
votes
Can my deck use 6x6s below the deck, and 4x4s on top?
It may depend on jurisdiction, but for a 6' deck height I'd consider 4x4 to be adequate post support at the spacing I see in the photos, given of course they're fixed to the concrete (cannot see that ...
- 4,352
5
votes
Accepted
How can fix and strengthen a linen closet shelf?
yes, those repair brackets. will work well.
It may make sense to use screws into the wall mounted wood (cleat), but to drill through the perpendicular wood (beam) and bolt the brackets on there ...
- 17.7k
4
votes
What size beam do I need to span 20' on a 25' roof?
What Nate said in his answer is true, but need to go a bit further on this question. There are several charts available that specify beam sizes based on span, spacing and types of materials used. A ...
- 58k
4
votes
Choosing the correct LVL beam size
Nope, a 2 ply 1-3/4" x 11-7/8" LVL can't span that long with this much roof on it. With a 19' span (and completely guessing on the roof span and live loading for your area) you're looking at at least ...
- 4,729
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