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Q: When I-joists are cantilevered over the foundation wall rather than directly supported at the sill plate, can a deck ledger be safely attached to the engineered rim joist?
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A casual inspection of just about any wooden boardwalk or ocean-side deck provides ample evidence of what a harsh coastal environment can do. Fortunately, there is help at hand to guide builders toward code-conforming deck design and good construction practice. Design for Code Acceptance 6:...
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Q. We see ourselves as quality builders. We frame everything 16 inches on-center, including roof trusses. Most visitors to our job sites feel that this is overkill and that we're wasting the customer's money. Is putting trusses 16 inches on-center with 5/
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Problems with deck attachment are common and the issues complex. Three experts home in on the forces at work between the deck ledger and the band joist and offer connection details that will support anticipated loads.
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Q. I was hoping someone could shed some light on EB-TY. I use this product on 80% of the decks I build, and many are one or more stories high. I also live in a heavy snow area. The clips in that system hold the decking to the framing with pressure, not with mechanical fasteners, and I'm concerned...
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Q. Would floor trusses or wood I-joists be stronger over a 26-foot span?
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Q: When I need a 6x6 deck post, I usually assemble a built-up column from three 2x6s. Is this kind of post equal in strength to a 6x6?
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Q: Recently I needed structural design values (E, Fb, Fv) for treated southern yellow pine. So I referred to a publication from the Southern Pine Council, which indicated that while E (modulus of elasticity) and Fv (allowable shear stress) remain constant, Fb (bending strength) values grow smaller...
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Q: A while ago you ran an article recommending that you limit deflection of built-up wood girders to L/600 so that the floor joists wouldn’t vibrate excessively (see Practical Engineering, 8/97). My question: Does this also apply to steel girders, or is it mainly a wood-related issue, owing to the...
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Q: In the search for a bounce-free floor, does either solid blocking or cross-bridging do anything to reduce the vibration caused by foot traffic? I haven’t been able to sense a difference between blocked or bridged floors and those without blocking or bridging. Consequently, I haven’t used either...