JLC ??APRIL 1992 Selecting the right-size header is a common problem for contractors. Reference tables are available, but they can be long and confusing. Here I have tried to offer a simple reference for sizing standard headers. There are many definitions of the word "header," but in this article we are talking about main supporting beams that carry vertical loads around openings in walls. These can be door headers, window headers, or headers above portals between columns or posts. Here we are referring exclusively to wood headers in wood frame construction with wooden floor, ceiling, and roof framing running perpendicular to the direction of the header. Using The Table The tables are grouped by lumber species. Load capacities are given per linear foot
