Can I Replace A W8x35 X 20 Foot Steel I Beam With...

Ray

An LVL microllam, 7 inches wide by 8.5 inches tall by20 feet long?

The beam will span a 20 foot opening when I remove the existing 2x4 wall.

That wall is on the first floor of a 25 x 50 foot 2 story home, and its load bearing for floor joists that meet above that wall forming the floor for the two bedrooms above where I want to take the wall out.

Thanks

Ray

jmic

I'd say no way, to much span!

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RobertCDF

It might be possible but you would have to talk to some engineers about it. Is it just holding the floor system or is it supporting a roof load as well?

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handyman923

A W8x35 has a stiffness (E*I) of 3,683,000 kip-in2
A 7x8.5 (1.9E) LVL has a stiffness (E*I) of 681,000 kip-in2

The W8x35 is about 5.5 times stiffer than the LVL beam. So unless the W8x35 was significantly over-designed, there is no way this LVL would work.

bergenbldr

From past experience i would say a 7 inch lvl would need to be around 18 to 24 inchs deep to carry the same load as the i beam.

K2

What don't you like about the steel beam other than 700 lbs. ??

Kevin H

(3) 1 3/4" x 16 lvl's we did this over a garage carrying roof & floor load. I'd check with your lumber yard to be sure they'd be glad to figure it for you - Kevin

nadonailer

No Way........................ A 5 1/2 x 14" lami beam will carry that load for that span with lots of straps and hangers - barely......

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Blackhawk

We took out a wait bearing wall on a two story like your on put three eightenn inch lams spanning about twenty feet or abouts and we got 3/4 deflection the minute we pulled the jacks out was suppose to be 1/4 at most so id stick with the I beam or talk to an engineer so be careful good luck ...