Time for another update now that moose hunting season is over !
When I built the garage, I used a double 2"x12"x14' sandwiching a 1/2" plywood...glued and nailed the heck out of it...and used it as the header over my popout section.
I knew I would get a bit of sag...and thought I could live with it...but last winter with the heavy wet snow we got in late December (10" on the 27th), It was sagging way more than I liked...and I made sure to keep the roof clean throughout the winter.
I know, I should have checked span tables, used LVL, bla bla bla...
So I decided I wasn't ever gonna worry about sagging ever again...Fast forward to this weekend
STEP ONE: Remove the sag by using a lally jack...I took up about 3/4" of sag with the jack.
STEP TWO: Build a temporary wall to support the trusses at the correct height, removing load from the header.
STEP THREE: Obtain sag proofing materials ! I thought about using LVL...but didn't like the look...liked the cost even less...so I paid a visit to my friendly local sawmill...came back with a rough sawn 6"x8"x14' Hemlock beam and two rough sawn 6"x6"x10' Hemlock posts...I won't ever have to worry about sag again ! In my immediate future though, I did have to worry about getting that heavy (300 lbs-ish) sucker up 9 feet in the air !
STEP FOUR: Raise the heavy sucker 9' up using two safety chains and my come-along...alternating sides...the last 6 inches, I was up on a sturdy step ladder...heaved it up with my shoulder all whilst positioning the post underneath...once the posts were snugged up under the beam...I used my persuader to massage the bottom of the posts into final vertical position.
STEP FIVE: Will be tomorrow...remove the temporary wall...secure the posts to the garage structure with some lag screws...then secure the beam to the posts with some more lag screws...no danger of anything falling in the meantime...the fit was really snug !
Checked everything with my long level and some string...perfectly level & no more sag !
I'm happy.
Bonus: I will leave the posts & beam exposed when I finish the walls, it will make for a nice look and a good place to hang some garage art !
Cost for the beam: $45
Cost for the posts: $20ea
