Anybody had any experience with the new LSBs?
That’s LiteSteelbeam: http://www.litesteelbeam.com/
We just set our first one last Friday, 17′ span carrying 4′ of floor trib, an 18′ high wall load with the first 8′ covered in stacked stone, 4′ of roof trib and 3′ trib of 4″ concrete slab and flagstone porch. Total design load 1268 lb/lft. I ran it on BC Calc and it came out as a triple 16 LVL at similar deflections. There’s living space in the basement underneath the porch and I really don’t like carrying concrete on wood anyway, so the truss designer suggested we try one of these.
Single 14″ x.134 LSB carried it, according to the company designers. Rented a rescue saw to cut it with, cut 4 stiffeners for the ends and attached them with Buildex screws, drilled holes 2′ OC for the concrete lintel with a step bit(any of you ever price one of those? Youch!), set it in place, weight around 230 lb, more or less, then used more Buildex screws to attach a plate for the top-bearing trusses. Buildex screws are pricey, too, and they come in 250-count boxes! So I’m stocked on screws for the next few jobs…
It was raining on and off, it was Friday afternoon and I was chasing checks to boot so I didn’t pull out the camera, I’ll try to get some pix tomorrow after the pan metal and lintel are installed. We’ll have to measure and install steel tube columns at the ends to finish up the job.
Overall first impression is that I like this thing! A little different to work with but it beats the heck out of wrestling 16″ LVLs around and laminating them in place. The trip LVL would have weighed almost twice as much(8 lb/lft/ply vs. 13 lb/lft for the LSB), setting it as single plies would have been my preference but you’re still dealing with 130+ lb beams and you have to repeat 3 times then climb up on a ladder and screw or drill-and-bolt it together. Then drill holes for the lintel…
So has anyone here worked with these? The houses we frame tend to use a lot of long, clear-span beams and it’s not unusual to wind up with a 2 or 3-ply 16 LVL for a ridge, which usually requires a crane and a lot on nail-biting, coffee drinking and arse-drawing-up on my part while it’s all going on…. I’m starting to think of a lot of applications for something like this, especially if we can use some of the smaller sizes. I’ve been told that rule-of-thumb is that a single 10″ is equivalent to a double 14″ LVL, if so that’s a real incentive!
TIA for any feedback,
Bill
Replies
No experience...........
My only knowledge is that from reading about them. I hope you get some replies from others that have used these.
Thanks for the reply, Cal.
So nobody's used these? Just lil' old me?
You guys are missing out on something pretty good, you really ought to check these out. I got this one through the truss company for $18.00/lft and called the local lumber yard for comparative pricing, they checked and said they couldn't buy it for that price. So it might pay to shop around. At that price, it beats a trip 16 hands down in my market.
Bill
P.S. Pix tomorrow, I promise!
Builders using LSB
Hi Bill,
Thanks for your post on LiteSteel beam. I handle public relations for the company, and wanted to let you know of an installation involving Brookstone Homes of Oconomowoc, Wis. They used LSB in a ranch-style home late last year and had some nice results. You can read about their experiences using LSB in Residential Design & Build http://www.rdbmagazine.com/print/Residential-Design-and-Build/Straighter--Stronger--Longer/1$3929
If you're interested in learning more about LSB, I would encourage you to follow them on Facebook. By becoming a fan you’ll have access to product news and announcements, industry articles, promotions and conversations/discussions with LSB and personnel. http://www.facebook.com/pages/LiteSteel-beam/120823267963236?ref=sgm
Take care - Steve Staedler
Seen them advertised in JLC,
I have seen them advertised in JLC, never saw one in the flesh but sure would like to.
I'd like even more to find somebody local, their web site says nobody here. Alamogordo NM, land of they don't make those annymore.
Joe H
Using LSB
We just completed our first project with LSB and plan on using it again soon. We had a client that wanted a large open span in a contemporary home here in Atlanta and did not want to see any headers or beams sticking out below the cieling surface. We had to come up with a 26 foot span that would hold roof framing made up with wood I-joists. We connected the I-joists with slopable hangers and self tapping screws to the LSB. On the other side we also welded some angle iron for supporting accent soffit of sorts on the high side of the roof. I will be posting videos and photos on my site shortly http://www.kevinbuckleybuilders.com As promised we were able to cut it in the field and my framer was able to handle it with no problems. It really is cool stuff I will attach a picture below:
Nice looking job, Kevin!
Did you actually manage to keep part of the old structure and incorporate it in the new design?
Our project wasn't nearly as impressive, just holding up a concrete/stone porch slab and stacked-stone on the wall. Here are a couple of photos of the install, I'll post some more when they get the stonework done. The 2x6 posts are temporary, they'll come out and be replaced with steel.
Best,
Bill
LiteSteel Beam
Hi Bill,
I'm the local LSB rep here in Atlanta. I would like to hear more about your installation with our product & also share some other applications for our beams.
You may reach me at 404-695-3890 or email me at [email protected].
Anyone else on this site is welcome to contact me as well w/ questions.
Thank you very much.
Tim Kallan
LiteSteel Technologies
Atlanta, GA
404-695-3890
[email protected]
No Big Deal
BillG71,
A similar type beam has been used in construction for many years. By taking two 14, 12",10", or 8" standard Light-Gauge Steel Joists 12ga and attaching them back to back, a very close weight of beam, load carrying capacity, resistance to torsion, deflection and ease of construction at the jobsite are achieved.
Wood joists can frame into it from its side with extended steel clips so that nothing projects down below the ceiling and everything is flush with the ceiling.
Furthermore such joists can be ordered precut to length so that you don't have to buy a special saw to cut it, waste material and pay extra for what you don't use.
The total regular price for this composite beam should be around $13.50 per foot for the 14" size and less for the smaller sizes. Also there are self drilling, self tapping screws that can be fastened into wood and light steel without predrilling holes in steel and do not cost that much, a box of 1000 maybe in the range of $50 to $100.
In Atlanta they can be found at SteelFrameHousing 770-723-7776 or inquire with [email protected]
Welcome to BT.
You might want to stick around here, and engineers opinion might lend some useful information.
What's your story anyway? saw nothing in the profile. It doesn't hurt to fill in that brief profile (tho we seemingly can't edit ours anymore-I aassume you can .......as a new member............but assumptions here oft be wrong.
Thanks for your input.
New Member
Calvin,
I am still trying to find my way around the administrative part of this website, will do my best to give more background information.
Thanks