Replies

1. 
   BossHog | Jul 26, 2005 09:23pm | #1

   Just curious - Are you talking about building it out of multiple 2X lumber, 4X4s, 6X6s, or what?

   Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant with the weak and the wrong. Sometime in your life you will have been all of these. [Robert H. Goddard]
1. 
   BryanKlakamp | Jul 26, 2005 09:40pm | #2

   This is for a post in a wall. The wall is constructed of 2 x 4's. This is an exterior wall which will be sheathed with 7/16" OSB. The OSB will be positioned horizontally. The posts will be supporting 3 - LVL's. I am planning on using 4 - 2 x 4's under the post (I realize this will be 6" wide and the LVL's will be 5 1/4" wide. I will use a 3/4" spacer next to the LVL's), with an additional 2 x 4 on each side of the LVL's. The posts will carry between 5 and 6 tons if ever fully loaded.

   Hope this helps.

   Bryan"Objects in mirror appear closer than they are."

   Klakamp Construction, Findlay, Ohio

1. 
   Framer | Jul 27, 2005 01:35am | #3

   This is for a post in a wall. The wall is constructed of 2 x 4's. This is an exterior wall which will be sheathed with 7/16" OSB. The OSB will be positioned horizontally. The posts will be supporting 3 - LVL's. I am planning on using 4 - 2 x 4's under the post (I realize this will be 6" wide and the LVL's will be 5 1/4" wide. I will use a 3/4" spacer next to the LVL's), with an additional 2 x 4 on each side of the LVL's. The posts will carry between 5 and 6 tons if ever fully loaded.

    

   Bryan,

    

   I do it exactly the way you described all the time but all our lumber is doug fir so it might be different from where your from.

    

    

    

    

    Joe Carola

2. 
   BossHog | Jul 27, 2005 01:56pm | #7

   Just crunching some rough numbers - Your load of 6 tons is obviously 12,000#. And it's bearing on about 18 square inches. So that gives you about 667 PSI. The brand of LVLs we sell is good for 750 PSI. SYP #2 is good for 1650 PSI parallel to the grain. No problem there.So your only question is the slenderness ratio of the column/post. To figure that, you'd need the height of the post and someone who knows how to calc that.
   All business depends upon men fulfilling their responsibilities. [Gandhi]

1. 
   BryanKlakamp | Jul 27, 2005 03:15pm | #8

   I will be using 9' precut studs.

   The foundation under the posts will be 5 rows of 8" concrete block, grouted with concrete and one #4 rebar in each cavity. The footer will be 3' x 3'.

   You mention that LVLs are good for 750 PSI. I have been told that you cannot use an LVL for a post. Is that true or not?

   Thanks

   Bryan"Objects in mirror appear closer than they are."

   Klakamp Construction, Findlay, Ohio

1. 
   BossHog | Jul 27, 2005 03:38pm | #9

   "You mention that LVLs are good for 750 PSI."

   I said the brand that *WE* sell (GP) is good for 750 PSI. I suspect that others are similar, but don't know for certain.

   "I have been told that you cannot use an LVL for a post. Is that true or not?"

   I've never heard that, and don't know why it wouldn't work. If you talk to your supplier they could tell you for sure.
   When the well is dry, they know the worth of water [Benjamin Franklin]

2. 
   hammer1 | Jul 27, 2005 05:17am | #4

   I often use lally columns when carrying loads like you describe. A 3 1/2" column will squeeze into a 2x4 wall, just barely. I run them to concrete when possible. There won't be any problem with insects or rot as the years go by. The are probably less expensive, too.

   Beat it to fit Paint it to match

3. 
   BarryO | Jul 27, 2005 10:30am | #5

   You're looking for the compressive strength parallel to the grain parameters for the species and grade you're using.  You  should be able to get these online; e.g., see http://www.wwpa.org/_techguide/pdf/dvalues.pdf for western SPF (free registration required).  I guest there's a similar southern bureau site for SYP.

   The FPL site has alot of info on wood species; like http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr113/ch04.pdf

   One thing to keep in mind though (remembering from my structural engineering texts long ago), is that loading on a post is not always straightforward.    it depends on the loading and the "slenderness ratio" of the post.  if the post is relatively short with respect to its cross-section, then the load does stay uniformly across the post, and the allowable load is simply cross section x compressive strength.

   However, if the post is longer, as a load is applied, the post will tend to bend to one side.  Then one side of the post is in tension, and the opposite is in compression.  Things get a little more complicated, and the allowable load is less than it is in the short-post example.

   I guess the sheathing may help constrain the posts from bending, but a big margin is probably still warranted.  'might even be a good idea to run it by a PE.

4. 
   dIrishInMe | Jul 27, 2005 01:50pm | #6

   Sorry, don't have your answer but another Q...

   An what is below this point load? 
    

   Matt