[bolini95]

I have a need for two beams that will allow me to hang 2 X 6's off one side and 2 X 8's off the other so that my ceiling is flat. The span for the beam is 15 ' 3 ", and the span for the joists is 12 '. I'm building this room inside my present pole barn, which has a shed roof above where I'll be building my "room". It has a concrete floor and is 32 ' long and 24 ' wide. Will three 2 X 12 X 16's be enough beam to support those joists, insulation, a sheetrock ceiling and four sheets of plywood on top of the 2 x 8's for lightweight storage?

 

[jklingel]

according to a table i have, each 2x12 will carry about 1400 lbs, total, assuming a uniform load. that is only approx, and DOES NOT take into account your bending stresses, wood species, load duration, etc. an lvl or psl should carry a whole lot more, given the same size, but i only know enough to gather my info and ask an engineer to eye-ball it. i think the "normal" floor load is figured at 40 psf???? bottom line; ask a structural engineer and sleep well.

 

[hand drive]

how the beam sits at the bearing points in the walls is a big factor as well. it has to be built right to hold the weight of the beam down to the foundation/footing...