Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 01, 1999 02:46am | #1

   *
   Generically a beam is any horizontal member supported on vertical members. In light construction a beam supporting a subfloor is a girder, supporting a second floor or roof it is a beam, in a wall it is a header, repeative use beams are joists when horizontal and rafters when sloped. Any of these when exposed are typically called beams. In heavy construction the terminology may be very different.

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 01, 1999 05:49am | #2

   *Mike 99% of the time you are correct but be carefull about refering to beams girders and columns as horizontal or verticle members, some are not. I prefer, a beam transfers a load perpendicular to its length.

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 01, 1999 05:08pm | #3

   *In MI residential construction, a beam (wood) is a solid horizontal member supporting ceiling, or roof loads. Girders are manufactured beams, usually trusses that do the same thing.Blue

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 02, 1999 02:14am | #4

   *I thought a girder was just a big beam?

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   Guest_ | Apr 02, 1999 08:13am | #5

   *That's the wonderful thing about the internet,you can think what ever you like, and publish it for countless numbers of people to read, and you won't here any more than a handful swear at you!!!Supporting your right to think out loud, and my right to ridicule you for it. . . the cat wasn't near enough to kick!!!

2. 
   John_E | Apr 02, 1999 04:26pm | #6

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   Mike,
   So a beam in a basement supporting the first floor floor joists is really a girder, and the same beam supporting the second floor floor joists is a beam? And this is true no matter what the beam/girder is constructed from, wood, steel, LVL ?

3. 
   Guest_ | Apr 02, 1999 06:31pm | #7

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   John, the terminology I pointed out was simply common usage. It may indeed be regional. I have heard beams in crawl spaces and basements called girders or beams. Often they are refered to as girders when built up out of 2x. In So. Cal. built up solid 2x girders are a thing of the past. I have never heard of a wooden member above the subfloor level being called a girder. If it were steel, who knows. The use of the terms header, joist and rafter is more standardized (and codified) than girder.

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 02, 1999 06:58pm | #8

   *Have fun belittling Patrick, it shows how big you really are!Blue

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 05, 1999 01:37am | #9

   *??? Sorry, that went right over my head ??? Just saying what I thought. And I'll be watching you, Patrick. :)And note that according to Merriam Webster:beamPronunciation: 'bEmFunction: nounEtymology: Middle English beem, from Old English bEam tree, beam; akin to Old High German boum treeDate: before 12th century1 a : a long piece of heavy often squared timber suitable for use in construction Main Entry: gird·erPronunciation: 'g&r-d&rFunction: nounEtymology: 1girdDate: 1611: a horizontal main structural member (as in a building or bridge) that supports vertical loads and that consists of a single piece or of more than one piece bound together

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 05, 1999 02:45am | #10

   *Gee BleuI clean forgot to add the smiley faces and LOLMy sincere mea culpa. . . nice form on the i knee jerktaking lessons???

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 05, 1999 11:01pm | #11

   *Patrick, sometimes funny sarcasm doesn't read well on the net. It appears I mis-read your intentions, and I apologize for jumping down your throat! I guess I was a little cranky 'cause I've been visisting a relative in Las Vegas, and lost a lot of dough! That reply was issued in vegas after a hard day at the casinos!I'm back now and back in my usual good spirits despite a heavy lose of $27.75! I'm never going to do that again! Gambling is for losers, and now I've joined the club!Blue

4. 
   s. | Apr 07, 1999 06:24pm | #12

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   Beam/girder: BASM

   BASM: Big-Ass Structural Member.

   :-):-):-)

   Sam

1. 
   ChrisT | Apr 07, 1999 07:07pm | #13

   *Remember Bleu, in case you want to try any other get rich quick games:"The lottery is tax for people who are really bad at math."My condolences on your loss.Chris

1. 
   Dan_McGuire | Apr 09, 1999 01:29pm | #14

   *a girder is a beam that supports a series of beams,

5. 
   Guest_ | Apr 09, 1999 11:06pm | #15

   *
   Let's get this straight once and for all:

   Beam is what you drink when the girder starts to fail.

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 09, 1999 11:19pm | #17

   *fiyo,Glad we have THIS straightened out! I knew there was something missing in my definition......:-)Sam

6. 
   John_E | Apr 09, 1999 11:19pm | #16

   *
   What is the difference between a beam and a girder, anyone??