LVL Beam questions
 

We are knocking out a central load bearing ball with a span of about 20'. The wall is in between living/den with uneven ceiling height. One room has a higher slanted ceiling that is about 2' higher than the other. The total span carried is over 20' and the roof is a modest sloping shingle on a basic 70's brick ranch. The plan is to put up a 22' beam up in the space where the two uneven ceilings meet (cover w/ drywall and be unnoticeable) and attach the lower ceiling joists w/ hangers and then build a small pony wall to meet the higher ceiling joists above. Both ends of the header will meet at corners, where we intend to put 4 x 4 posts through to the foundation. My questions are, what depth of LVL beam should we use? Are 4 x 4 posts enough at each end? Will the hanger/pony wall work ok to attach joists?

Structural Engineer Required
 

Only proper answer to your question will be offered by a local structural engineer who can observe your property, calculate the loads, and offer structural alteration recommendations..

Anything less is pure guesswork.

In fact, Geogia building code ( 2003 IRC) requires and engineered design for such alterations.

You can't be issued a permit in Georgia without stamped professional drawings for such a remodel...so find an engineer or architect or other duly certified design professional who can service your needs and meet your Code's minimum requirements...

This is not a DIY guessing game.

Luck

I spoke to an engineer on staff at the lumberyard, he stated that a 18" LVL beam would meet code, we have a contractor neighbor helping to put the beam in place and he had suggested the hangers and ponywall to attach the beam w/ 4 x 4 posts at each end. We do not have a permit for this nor do we intend on getting one due to time restraints. I was just wandering if this sounded normal b/c although we've done a lot of remodel jobs this will be our first load bearing wall knock down requiring an LVL beam.

IMO there's no problem with the hangers/ponywall part, It's the taking the load to the foundation part that might have me nervous, you're taking the load of the roof into two very small points and assuming that everyhting will be fine, which it may, or may not. Even w/o a permit can you get an engineer to spec some details for you?