LVL for garage door headers?

[Strouty]

My garage is in dire need of new headers. The current ones are apparently very happy, they are always smiling. I need about 14' long spans, the door openings are 12' wide. I can get 28' LVL beams 1 3/4" x 11 7/8" for $160 delivered. I have consulted with the lumberyard's resident engineer and they want me to stack 3 of them to make it engineered correctly. I have two doors, so it would be $480 total delivered and taxed. I couldn't get free engineering on steel beams, but this seems like a good price. Would you guys use steel or LVL? Of course then I need to either keep my verticals and add some wood to the tops of the LVL beams or go totally new, which would probably almost double my costs.

 

[brad900]

Try Home Depot. I got 3 32' for around $120 each ( I can't find the receipt for the exact price) plus $79 for del.

 

[never enuf time]

Do the lvl's. It will be lighter, as you do 1 at a time.

 

[fastjohnny]

If your garage height would allow, I'd go with a deeper lvl, most of the span charts will list 2-3 options. If 3 117/8 levels work, I'd think 2 of 14 or 16" would also be close, that way they'd be the same width as a 2x4 wall. Lots of web resources have span tables for lvl's.

 

[CNGsaves]

How about pictures of these "unhappy headers" . . . . that is a first for me that garage build was so poor that headers were sagging!!##%!

Any history of this garage you can give as to WHY this problem might have occurred??

 

[Strouty]

Try Home Depot. I got 3 32' for around $120 each ( I can't find the receipt for the exact price) plus $79 for del.

I will check them out, the delivery may kill the "deal", but if it is close enough then I would do it.

Do the lvl's. It will be lighter, as you do 1 at a time.

That is my thought for sure.

If your garage height would allow, I'd go with a deeper lvl, most of the span charts will list 2-3 options. If 3 117/8 levels work, I'd think 2 of 14 or 16" would also be close, that way they'd be the same width as a 2x4 wall. Lots of web resources have span tables for lvl's.

I am going to put new doors in and I am trying to get as much height as a I can, so these are my only option at this point. Essentially it leaves me with 12" to make the track and door clear the actual opening.

How about pictures of these "unhappy headers" . . . . that is a first for me that garage build was so poor that headers were sagging!!##%!

Any history of this garage you can give as to WHY this problem might have occurred??

I should have snapped some pics, I will get some later today. The "header" if you could call it that. Is made of 2x6? and then has 2x4 stacked the wrong way to make up the height. I did not build this, but it has always smiled at me. The roof line has the same droop. I have jacked it up before to see if it fixes the roof and it all comes back to like it should be.

 

[blkhonda1991]

I will check them out, the delivery may kill the "deal", but if it is close enough then I would do it.



That is my thought for sure.



I am going to put new doors in and I am trying to get as much height as a I can, so these are my only option at this point. Essentially it leaves me with 12" to make the track and door clear the actual opening.



I should have snapped some pics, I will get some later today. The "header" if you could call it that. Is made of 2x6? and then has 2x4 stacked the wrong way to make up the height. I did not build this, but it has always smiled at me. The roof line has the same droop. I have jacked it up before to see if it fixes the roof and it all comes back to like it should be.

if thats your existing header the triple lvl is way overkill most likely

 

[Falcon67]

I used a double 2x12 with a 1/2" ply core screwed and glued over a 16' door, no problems.

 

[KULIWOBBY]

I used a double 2x12 with a 1/2" ply core screwed and glued over a 16' door, no problems.

This is exactly how I built mine.

 

[dipper]

This is exactly how I built mine.

X3

 

[Cemoto]

I can get 28' LVL beams 1 3/4" x 11 7/8" for $160 delivered. I have consulted with the lumberyard's resident engineer and they want me to stack 3 of them to make it engineered correctly. I have two doors, so it would be $480 total delivered and taxed. I couldn't get free engineering on steel beams, but this seems like a good price. Would you guys use steel or LVL? Of course then I need to either keep my verticals and add some wood to the tops of the LVL beams or go totally new, which would probably almost double my costs.

Since they want you to triple them you should be able to use 10" instead of 12".

I just last week paid 4.06/ft for 1 3/4" x 9 1/2" x 36' tripled, or 437.40 delivered plus tax.

Regards,

 

[Dennis93]

What do you mean stacked? Surely you mean next to each other, and not one on top of the other? In other words your header would not be 11 7.8 X 3 high right? Use some good osb, and some 2x10 or 12X14. You can get that at home depot and probably be out about under $100. Glue and nail. Screw in some spots so they stay together but nail overall.

 

[Strouty]

We are adding a second level later so the triple sandwiched lvl is for future loads. I got photos of it but have not had a chance to upload them.

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