I-beam support?

[hell_fish_65]

My garage has a wood center support (girder). I want to replace this with a steel I-beam. its spans about 50', so I wanted to know if the steel beam was cut into sections, and you used connecting plates to attached the sections back together, would you need upright to hold it, or could it easily span the 50' run?

 

[NoSurf]

Depends on alot of factors.

What is the load on the span? Where are you located?

You might have to go to a taller web in order to get the connection to work for a moment connection in the middle of the span.

 

[hell_fish_65]

No clue on the load, but I live in Elgin TX, 20 minutes from Austin. Righ now I have 4 upright supports and wouldnt mind one or 2, but I have to ditch at least the other 2. The PO used 2 x 8's (side by side, so 4" thick) for the girder and butted them together, with no over lap, and put a post at each spot he butted.

 

[NoSurf]

Sounds like you could have fewer posts. I think trying to go with steel and trying to bolt it together without posts wouldn't be as economical as using steel and one or two posts. (Although- my Dad and I did this when I was a kid, and we **** welded and added welded plates to the joints of the shorter beams to make a longer span.)

Usually if you are going to increase the span you will need a deeper web on the member.

Also look into glulam products.

Another idea is to build a "fletched" beam. This is where you sandwich a piece of steel plate between two 2 bys and bolt it all together.

 

[Rrumbler]

Were I you, I'd sure be contacting an engineer for the solution to this one. If you can afford the steel, a couple hundred bucks more for the pro will get you past the questions.

 

[hell_fish_65]

I can get the steel for cheap or free. Having family that works in the construction biz has perks. Not a bad idea on a pro look over though.

 

[NoSurf]

Since I am a structural engineer, I too would suggest having a registered PE do some calcs. I would also suggest calling some of the one-man outfits rather than calling a firm, unless you know someone that moonlights, as it is generally cheaper.

If you need any contacts down in your area- let me know, as I have a company I deal with outside Austin that does some of my shop drawings, and they might know some local structural engineers.

 

[Tman]

Actually when I was doing the structure on my new place I looked into steel vs glulam and amazingly the steel I Beam came out cheaper in many cases?! THe only hitch is hiring a crane in some instances, something we didnt do with my 40 foot site built ridgebeam. 5 of us hoisted it 13 feet in the air by hand. Leverage is your friend.

 

[sberry]

I would be putting it in one piece at any rate.

 

[HOT DAMN!]

Chiming in as a construction manager, you have received some sound advice here, take heed.

There are way too many factors involved for a question like this to be answered correctly in a forum.

You are getting the materials for free, offset that with the knowledge of a PE to properly calculate and size your beam.

Good Luck with your project.