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Recent content by ctcray

  1. ctcray

    floor joists over beams.

    "IRC 2006 R502.7 Lateral restraint at supports. Joists shall be supported laterally at the ends by full-depth solid blocking not less than 2 inches nominal in thickness; or by attachment to a full-depth header, band or rim joist, or to an adjoining stud or shall be otherwise provided with...
  2. ctcray

    Question on spacing between shearwalls

    I'll second what WillisV said....
  3. ctcray

    how to specify wood I joists on drawings

    I haven't come across a drastic difference between brands of equivalent sized I-joists as far as allowable spans/capacities go. Besides, when the drawings call out '14" LPI/TJI/GFCI/etc joists @ 16"oc', our supplier does their own layout/takeoff to ensure the correct product for the actual spans...
  4. ctcray

    RISA3D for Wood Framing/ Residential Design

    I guess I should have asked this question of Risa-Floor as I'm not really looking to do finite elements on a house. Obviously, for a 2-story Colonial with a middle bearing wall, modeling isn't worth the time. But for cut-up 5000-10000 sf houses, with 45 degree bearing walls here, and beams...
  5. ctcray

    heavy timber truss preferable species

    We design and build using either Select Structural Doug Fir or glulam. The doug fir is green and will check giving a more "rustic" look. The glulam will be straight and have a cleaner finish.
  6. ctcray

    Residential Foundation Plumbness Tolerances

    The "Residential Construction Performance Guidelines" 2nd Edition from NAHB states: 2-13 Poured concrete basement wall is out of plumb. Performance Guideline: Concrete walls shall not be out of plumb greater than 1-1/2 inches in 8 feet when measured from the base to the top of the wall...
  7. ctcray

    RISA3D for Wood Framing/ Residential Design

    Has anyone used RISA3D to model the framing of a wood structure, ie, a house? I would love to use it to capture all the loads from the ridge beam down to the beam in the basement. I just wonder if that's a reasonable request of the program. -chuck
  8. ctcray

    Deck with Snow and Live Loads (at the same time?)

    With that much snow (75psf), and you mention an 8x8 hottub which is going to have a significant impact on the size of deck members by itself, is the extra 30 or 40 psf of Live Load gonna break the bank? My biggest concern would be an adequate ledger connection, which I would avoid if at all...
  9. ctcray

    Residential load calculations

    Steel beams are not covered by the prescriptive IRC code, therefore require to be engineered. Once designed, the beam can be supported on anything capable of carrying the applied loading. A properly connected, sized, and braced wood column can be used to support a steel beam.
  10. ctcray

    Should Wood Splits like this be epoxy filled?

    I think you need to decide whether it is a check or a split and then determine its effect on the member. For beams that are checked (typically green timbers check as they dry), you may have shear resistance issues. Ie, if the beam split all the way through, you'd have a much less stiff member...
  11. ctcray

    ACQ preservative and galvanized vs. stainless stell

    We deal regularly with USP products and use their Triple Zinc coated products for use with ACQ treated lumber. Most treated deck lumber is 0.40 lb/ft^3 ACQ. However, CCA treatment is still used for treated Glulams and marine grade lumber. Looking in the USP Retail Price Guide available on...
  12. ctcray

    What is the section modulus of 3/8" A36 steel plate

    Most steel plate comes in 1-inch increments, ie 11" wide x 20' long pieces, so i would recommend working with what is readily available to save the contractor. Might be better off using a 10" steel beam with packed out webs. Have you figured the self weight of this monster?
  13. ctcray

    why are partition studs spaced @ 16"?

    16" oc allows even spacing on 48" panel intervals, and its just about the minimum space that some contractors can fit through without snagging their belt buckle. :-)
  14. ctcray

    small jobs, fees, and contracts

    So rday, You fax them something to sign with a broad description of what you'll do before you go to the job? and do you typically require payment when you arrive at the site, or do you just send an invoice afterwards?
  15. ctcray

    small jobs, fees, and contracts

    I just finished reading AlpineEngineer's thread about "billed time" and thought I'd get some input on a similar problem. I get phone calls from people who are looking for an engineer to come out to their house and evaluate an existing condition or problem and present them with either an...

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