I am doing a remodel on my own house. The kitchen is small and connected to a back porch that is also small. The wall in between was at one time the exterior wall. I want to remove about 14 feet of that wall, opening up the kitchen.
This is a one-story house. The roofing above is a shed roof with comp shingles. There are 2 x 4 rafters on either side with 7′ spans. The whole ceiling and roof is pretty low already so I don’t want to put a 4 x 8 beam up there, but a 4 x 6 is too wimpy says the span tables and the building inspector. I am thinking of using a 4 x 4 steel tube or else a 4 x 6 steel I-beam for the 14′ span with these 2 x 4s resting on top.
This is in an area of California that gets very minimal snow. Even that is pretty rare.
Has anyone done this? What are your thoughts?
Replies
bump
If the 4x8 was properly sized and works, you can cut out the top plates and nail the rafters into the 4x8 and gain 3". Are there ceiling joists, or is it cathedral?
"with these 2 x 4s resting on top. "
I don't know half the details needed, but why on top? If you have room to place the beam under instead of butt-to, you have room for a deeper beam it seems like.
and another problem you will have is insualtion in such a small cavity
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