Porch Framing Question

[jjtrou2072]

I'm adding a wrap-around porch to my building.

Porch is built on grade. Already poured concrete with footings where the porch posts will rest. (Plan is to bolt to concrete with Simpson Brackets).
I'm using 6x6 Posts notched at the top to fully bear the weight of a 4x10 Header / Beam. (Beam will be through bolted to 6x6 Post resting in Notch).

Posts will be 10ft apart.
Total length of porch is 90ft.
Plan is to glue and screw (2) 2x10's together to make the beams. (Beams will only be holding up porch ceiling / covering)

My question is in regards to the beam construction.
I do not have access to 20ft 2x10's, is it acceptable to build 10ft beams to span between each post or in other words do all beam splices have to fall on top of a post? If beam splices have to fall on top of a post my 10ft boards would require 4 through bolts at each post, is this acceptable?

I wasnt sure of the pro's / con's of gluing and screwing a longer continuous beam and avoiding the joints at each post vs. breaking the beams up into 10ft sections?

 

[geneg]

I'd probably use 10' er's on one run (simple beams) & glue/lag longer pieces for the other layer. It will be easier to keep straight. All same length can zig zag. If you want to match the thickness of the 4x10, add 1/2" plywood to the center. Just don't have any laps in line with each other. Use clamps to hold everything even & tight. Spax work great as lags & aren't as ugly as thru bolts. Install lags from alternating sides. High & low close to the ends of the 10' on the outside. If you use 16' pieces on the inside, ends & common sense spacing from inside. Alternate would be to use all 10s. Just 1/2 lap inside from outside. End lags are probably all that is required. Spax don't normally cause splits, but keep them at least 1 to 1-1/2" from the ends.

 

[couch67]

I can't answer whether the splices would be acceptable. Here they would probably not with a 2 ply beam, mainly due to snow load.

Are you set on 10' span? Adding two more posts will allow you to use 16' material, with all splices landing on (each alternating) posts. There would be a bit more waste though since the spans will be 7 1/2 feet.

 

[CraigStu]

I am trying to figure out how these 2x10s are only going to hold up a ceiling and not going to be supporting a roof. Could you post a hand done drawing of your design please?

 

[manwithtools]

I can't answer whether the splices would be acceptable. Here they would probably not with a 2 ply beam, mainly due to snow load.

Are you set on 10' span? Adding two more posts will allow you to use 16' material, with all splices landing on (each alternating) posts. There would be a bit more waste though since the spans will be 7 1/2 feet.

Did you miss this part of the OP's post?

Already poured concrete with footings where the porch posts will rest

 

[couch67]

Did you miss this part of the OP's post?

sure did, must have skimmed over that. saw the bolt to concrete remark and in my head thought the posts could be relocated

 

[cgrutt]

I'm not an architect or engineer so take it for what it's worth but I think answer partly depends on how far away the post and beams are from structure (i.e. how wide is the porch) and is the structure supporting both roof and decking or is it a concrete porch and only supporting roof? I'm more familiar with decks and a 10' span between posts seems like a lot for (2) 2x10 beam. Code may require the joints to be supported by posts even though you're gluing them together. Best practice would not have both joints on same post but it may be allowable by code you have to check with your town to see if they will accept it. If this were a deck (or if porch floor is also being supported by the post and beams) ten foot between posts only works with a joist span of 6' or below (including 2' canterleaver) any more than that you should have more posts or you could do away with notch and triple the 2x10 beam (or use (2) 2x12s). Suggest speaking with your building department to see what they will approve.

 

[PCustoms]

I'd stagger the joints.

If using 10' material, cut one in half and offset the first joint by 5'. Every other post will have the splice towards the porch/towards the yard. Alternatively you could get 16' and cut 1' off, probably be a little better but more waste.

I too am having a hard time envisioning how this is not carrying the roof load, pics or a sketch would help

 

[billconner]

I'm not understanding the loading 9n these possibly double 2x12 beams. So how wide is porch - building to beam - and how much overhang? Typical porch ceiling materias, aybe 2x6 joists scanning building to beam and over?

If they really only carry ceiling load, curious what is carrying roof load?

 

[Uncle murph]

I'm adding a wrap-around porch to my building.

Porch is built on grade. Already poured concrete with footings where the porch posts will rest. (Plan is to bolt to concrete with Simpson Brackets).
I'm using 6x6 Posts notched at the top to fully bear the weight of a 4x10 Header / Beam. (Beam will be through bolted to 6x6 Post resting in Notch).

Posts will be 10ft apart.
Total length of porch is 90ft.
Plan is to glue and screw (2) 2x10's together to make the beams. (Beams will only be holding up porch ceiling / covering)

My question is in regards to the beam construction.
I do not have access to 20ft 2x10's, is it acceptable to build 10ft beams to span between each post or in other words do all beam splices have to fall on top of a post? If beam splices have to fall on top of a post my 10ft boards would require 4 through bolts at each post, is this acceptable?

I wasnt sure of the pro's / con's of gluing and screwing a longer continuous beam and avoiding the joints at each post vs. breaking the beams up into 10ft sections?

I would order 20’ lumber and stagger the joints but keeping them over the columns.

 

[jjtrou2072]

structure (i.e. how wide is the porch) and is the structure supporting both roof and decking or is it a concrete porch and only supporting roof?

If they really only carry ceiling load, curious what is carrying roof load?

Sorry for the confusion guys.
The porch is 10ft wide (Structure to Posts) on grade concrete and is only supporting a tin roof.


I am attaching the porch roof to the side of the existing structure using a "Ledger Board" tied into the existing structure.
The roof load should be contained in the existing structure. See the pic below for an example.

I may have confused the terms roof and ceiling. What I am trying to say is that the existing structure's roof load will not be carried by the porch posts.

 

[billconner]

So you've got 6' of porch roof load on each foot of your proposed double 10' 2x12. That's is exactly what the building code says, but there's a lot of worst case presumptions that probably it's overkill and 2x10s would be fine.

If it was triple 2x8s (whick work) I'd ignore the **** joints except not at dead center between two posts. With double 2x12s, joints should be over posts as stated above.

 

[PCustoms]

Sorry for the confusion guys.
The porch is 10ft wide (Structure to Posts) on grade concrete and is only supporting a tin roof.


I am attaching the porch roof to the side of the existing structure using a "Ledger Board" tied into the existing structure.
The roof load should be contained in the existing structure. See the pic below for an example.

I may have confused the terms roof and ceiling. What I am trying to say is that the existing structure's roof load will not be carried by the porch posts.

The existing structures roof load isn't carried by the posts, but the porch roof load is.

 

[ddurrett896]

Order LVLs cut to length

 

[jar944]

is it acceptable to build 10ft beams to span between each post

or in other words do all beam splices have to fall on top of a post?

If beam splices have to fall on top of a post my 10ft boards would require 4 through bolts at each post, is this acceptable?

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Use simpson brackets and cut the post flush.

 

[jjtrou2072]

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Use simpson brackets and cut the post flush.

While not my favorite solution, I think I am just going to go with this method.
Span the 10ft distance between posts with (2) 2x10's screwed together to make a beam then through bolt them to each post.

Throw in some lateral knee braces on each post and call it a day.