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Ridge beam: Attach to existing stud wall

| Posted in Construction Techniques on April 13, 2004 04:48am

Greetings,

Newbie to the forum signing in, hello to all!  I’m a woodworker, I build a lot of furniture, and…as a homeowner…I do light construction on my house and others.  Roofing is a favorite of mine…go figure.  I devour FH each month.

My looming project is my most ambitious to date, and I’m hoping you all can provide guidance in a few areas as I go along.  Briefly, I have an existing standalone platform framed two-car garage, about 24 x 26.  I’m adding a room to the back of the garage, for studio space.  The ridge of the addition is parallel to the ridge of the garage, but offset three feet.  The new foundation will be three sides, the addition will tie into rear garage wall, and it’ll wind up being about 60% the size of the garage.

The design uses a ridge beam, so as to provide a cathedral ceiling.  I have few questions, but I’ll start with one:  how does framing for where the new ridge beam pierces the existing garage stud wall work, specifically the ridge beam support column/post?

On the other end of the ridge beam, I’m using a continuous post from the beam to the foundation.  The post…what’s this post called?…is made up of 2 2×6’s sandwiching 1/2in plywood…to match the 3-1/2 LVL beam.

I’d appreciate any thoughts and hints/warnings you might have.  I did read through many posts, but I didn’t find this particular slant on things.  Be glad to provide additional info and images. Thanks for your time and help.

-jj

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Replies

  1. BillW | Apr 13, 2004 04:55pm | #1

    You say the new ridge is parallel to the old one - do you mean perpendicular?  If they are parallel, I don't see how the new one 'pierces' the existing garage stud wall.  Maybe I'm just not visuallizing it well ... Bill.

    1. JohnnyGuitar | Apr 13, 2004 05:01pm | #2

      Sorry Bill I probably didn't express it well or perhaps my terminology is wrong.  Let's see, take a hotel and a house from Monopoly.  Line 'em up with their gable walls touching, and the ridges offset by a hair...that's what I've got.

  2. User avater
    SamT | Apr 13, 2004 05:04pm | #3

    JG,

    is one of the below what you have in mind?

    View Image

    SamT

    Arguing with a Breaktimer is like mud-wrestling a pig -- Sooner or later you find out the pig loves it. Andy Engel

    1. JohnnyGuitar | Apr 13, 2004 05:06pm | #4

      Hello Sam,

      Diagram A shows my design...thanks for including that, I owe you a beer!

      -jg

      1. User avater
        hubcap | Apr 13, 2004 05:23pm | #8

        jonnyg

        it's a king post- transfers the ridge load to the foundation- ideally you would open the existing garage wall up and install a king post under that end same as you describe for the other end.

        better to balloon frame those posts than not- wouldn't hurt to sister a trimmer up each side of the king to form a pocket for your ridge. -i like to put solid blocking perpendicular to the king in the stud cavities on both sides- say 48" o.c. to keep everything true.

        1. JohnnyGuitar | Apr 13, 2004 05:31pm | #10

          Hey hubcap,

          Thanks, that's exactly the kind of info I was looking for, and I appreciate the blocking hint...not sure I woulda thought of that one!

          -jg

  3. WorkshopJon | Apr 13, 2004 05:14pm | #5

    "I have an existing standalone platform framed two-car garage,"

    Johnny,

    Do you have a perimeter foundation?

    Monolithic slab?

    No foundation, just a thin slab?

    How old is it?

    What climate?

    All potentially relevant questions.

    Jon

    1. JohnnyGuitar | Apr 13, 2004 05:22pm | #7

      Hi Jon...I've answered in-line...

      Do you have a perimeter foundation? <yes...the jpg I just posted might be helpful>

      Monolithic slab? <block perimeter, poured garage floor>

      No foundation, just a thin slab?<see above>

      How old is it? <1953>

      What climate? <New England...freakin' cold sometimes!>

      All potentially relevant questions. <Hope the answers are useful, thanks for helping!>

      Jon

      1. WorkshopJon | Apr 13, 2004 05:30pm | #9

        Johnny,

        Since I'm not a builder/framer, I can't answer your question, but posting that info will help when the right person comes along.  Right now, lot's of forum participants are getting back to building now that it's getting warmer out, so it might take a while to get a response.

        Hint, if you don't get an answer by mid evening, reply back with some additional info to get your post to the top of the queue.

        Jon

  4. JohnnyGuitar | Apr 13, 2004 05:17pm | #6

    Hello, me again.  SamT's post prompted me to get a sketch out of my CAD system and see if I could post it...so here goes, keep your fingers crossed!  What you should see is the back wall of the garage and most of the framing for the addition...a work in progress.

    1. User avater
      SamT | Apr 13, 2004 06:45pm | #11

      JG, the framing is easy. Carefully cut garage plates as needed, cut hole in garage gable end for beam. Strap cut plates across king post.

      Footings? Flashing/sealing? If new ridge is above garage eaveline???? Runs into garage gable plates?? Uneven settling of foundations over time?

      Can-o'-worms.

      SamT

      Arguing with a Breaktimer is like mud-wrestling a pig -- Sooner or later you find out the pig loves it. Andy Engel

  5. csnow | Apr 13, 2004 06:53pm | #12

    That's a lot of point load.

    Instead of reframing the existing building to hold up the new ridge, how about giving the ridge it's own independent post (or support of some form) within the new structure.  Less invasive, and less rework.

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