I'm trying to figure out if a beam that's 3.50" thick will be as strong or even stronger than two sistered LVL beams that are each 1.75" thick. The beam will span 22 feet and will be used for a carport. Any advice or insights would be really appreciated!
2 Answers
Are you asking about two 1.75" beams sistered together? If so, they would likely be about the same strength as a single 3.50" beam. But honestly, a 22-foot span is pretty long for that setup. Are you planning on supporting anything heavy above it?
If you're considering a 22-foot open span, you might be in trouble. Depending on the loads (like a 40 PSF live load and 15 PSF dead load), you could need a much larger beam, around 5¼" x 20" LVL. Seriously, consult an engineer to get it right! Check out a sizing calculator for help, too!
Yeah, I meant the doubled 1.75" beams. Just planning for a carport, nothing too heavy.