I would like to build a stud wall to divide my basement. I want to place it directly under the main support I-beam of my house. Is there anything wrong with just shooting nails through the 2×4 plate up into the bottom of the I-beam to fix it in place? If that is a problem, what is the best way to fix the top of the stud wall in place under the beam? Thanks all.
Mark Blumer (East Lansing, MI)
Replies
I can't give you an engineer's answer, but consider that the bottom flange of the beam is in tension, the amount obviously related to the load from above. At some point, too many holes in the beam will degrade the effectiveness of the flange, and it would start to sag. I doubt that would be acase with the few holes you would really need to stand a wall up under it, particularly if you frame it nice and snug, use a lot of construction adhesive between the top plat and the beam, and shoot as few nails as is practical into it.
'Course, while I'd probably do it myself, I don't know that I would advise anyone else to do it.
Formerly BEMW at The High Desert Group LLC
Shooting plates into steel beams has been a common practice on all the jobs I've been on. Don't forget the web is in the middle.
Clampman
Mark,
There's no problem at all, it's being done every day. If your not comfortable, put some construction adhesive/liquid nails on the top plate and glue it to the bottom of the I-Beam and shoot some nails through the top plate and into the bottom of the beam.
They even drill the top of the I-Beams so that we can bolt and glue plates down to nail floor joists on top. This is all done by architects and engineers.
I wouldn't worry about it at all.
Joe Carola
You are talking about a powder actuated nailer, right?
Correct. I'm using a powder actuated nailer.
Markaag
Make sure you use the appropriate loads. Under powered can be furstrating, as well as bad on the drive pin.View ImageGo Jayhawks..............Next Year and daaa. Blues View Image
My beam was too thick to take a powder-actuated nail (1" thick flange) so we welded simpson straps to the beam and bent them down over the top plate (rabbetted it slightly) and then nailed into the side. Held great. Now that I think about it, we bent them first, and built the wall on the floor, then stood it up with the braces set over the plate, and welded it when the wall was in place. Anyway, just gives you another option.