LVL vertical drilling and notching
LVL vertical drilling and notching
(OP)
Greetings - I have some questions in regards to new construction being performed on my house.
First, the setup - house built in the late 1920's, recent renovations included removing the front 8' which were originally a porch that was later framed up to be internal space. No formal foundation forced us to remove and rebuild.
Front A-Frame on second story is new replacing small dormer.
Please excuse probably misuse of nomenclature ;)
Issue #1-
All seemed well until electrical contractor just did his work. Vertical holes were drilled at 2 locations through load beam
Front to back load beam is 10' starting on old load bearing wall, landing on door header at 8', and continuing 2' foward to front of doorway
All LVL is Versa-Lam 7 1/4" x 1 3/4" and the beam is doubled
Detail of beam exiting house
[IMG]http://i1 01.photobu cket.com/a lbums/m79/ 69gs400s/h ouse/outsi dedoor.jpg[/IMG]
Hole #1 drilled from top on angle and exits approx 11" from bearing wall, approx 1/3 of the way down
Let's call this "left beam", exiting left side
[IMG]ht tp://i101. photobucke t.com/albu ms/m79/69g s400s/hous e/hole1_bo ttom-2.jpg[/IMG]
Hole #1 looking down from 2nd floor – note hole starts on right-side of 2x4, which is centered over and above the two beams, indicating probably complete penetration from right to left of "Left Beam"
[IMG]http:// i101.photo bucket.com /albums/m7 9/69gs400s /house/hol e1_top.jpg[/IMG]
Hole #2 in "Right Beam" exits at roughly 28" from bearing wall and 16" from hole #1
[IMG]htt p://i101.p hotobucket .com/album s/m79/69gs 400s/house /hole2bott omtape.jpg[/IMG]
Hole #2 rough exit on bottom right side of "Right Beam"
[IMG]http://i1 01.photobu cket.com/a lbums/m79/ 69gs400s/h ouse/hole2 bottom.jpg[/IMG]
Bottom detail of right side exit on Right Beam
[IMG]http ://i101.ph otobucket. com/albums /m79/69gs4 00s/house/ hole2botto mtape2.jpg[/IMG]
Hole #2 looking down from 2nd floor – note hole starts on left-side of 2x4, which is centered over and above the two beams, indicating probably complete penetration from left to right of "Right Beam"
[IMG]h ttp://i101 .photobuck et.com/alb ums/m79/69 gs400s/hou se/hole2to ptape1.jpg[/IMG]
Detail shot of both holes from bottom
[IMG]http ://i101.ph otobucket. com/albums /m79/69gs4 00s/house/ hole1hole2 bottom.jpg[/IMG]
Next is issue #2 - what I'll call Reverse-notching of the door header to make room for the door.
[IMG]http://i1 01.photobu cket.com/a lbums/m79/ 69gs400s/h ouse/doorh eader1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]ht tp://i101. photobucke t.com/albu ms/m79/69g s400s/hous e/doorhead erleft.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]htt p://i101.p hotobucket .com/album s/m79/69gs 400s/house /doorheade rRight.jpg[/IMG]
My Questions are
1) how much strentgh is left in the double beam after the reaming it received
2) would adding additional LVL on either/both side(s) and bolting it all together be a reasonable fix
3) is the reverse notch on the door header going to create stress crack/riser in the inside corner ?
4) if so, what is a reasonable fix
Thank you very much for your help ...
... Alan
First, the setup - house built in the late 1920's, recent renovations included removing the front 8' which were originally a porch that was later framed up to be internal space. No formal foundation forced us to remove and rebuild.
Front A-Frame on second story is new replacing small dormer.
Please excuse probably misuse of nomenclature ;)
Issue #1-
All seemed well until electrical contractor just did his work. Vertical holes were drilled at 2 locations through load beam
Front to back load beam is 10' starting on old load bearing wall, landing on door header at 8', and continuing 2' foward to front of doorway
All LVL is Versa-Lam 7 1/4" x 1 3/4" and the beam is doubled
Detail of beam exiting house
[IMG]http://i1
Hole #1 drilled from top on angle and exits approx 11" from bearing wall, approx 1/3 of the way down
Let's call this "left beam", exiting left side
[IMG]ht
Hole #1 looking down from 2nd floor – note hole starts on right-side of 2x4, which is centered over and above the two beams, indicating probably complete penetration from right to left of "Left Beam"
[IMG]http://
Hole #2 in "Right Beam" exits at roughly 28" from bearing wall and 16" from hole #1
[IMG]htt
Hole #2 rough exit on bottom right side of "Right Beam"
[IMG]http://i1
Bottom detail of right side exit on Right Beam
[IMG]http
Hole #2 looking down from 2nd floor – note hole starts on left-side of 2x4, which is centered over and above the two beams, indicating probably complete penetration from left to right of "Right Beam"
[IMG]h
Detail shot of both holes from bottom
[IMG]http
Next is issue #2 - what I'll call Reverse-notching of the door header to make room for the door.
[IMG]http://i1
[IMG]ht
[IMG]htt
My Questions are
1) how much strentgh is left in the double beam after the reaming it received
2) would adding additional LVL on either/both side(s) and bolting it all together be a reasonable fix
3) is the reverse notch on the door header going to create stress crack/riser in the inside corner ?
4) if so, what is a reasonable fix
Thank you very much for your help ...
... Alan






RE: LVL vertical drilling and notching
Hire a local structural engineer - we have to eat, too.
RE: LVL vertical drilling and notching
RE: LVL vertical drilling and notching
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
http://mmcengineering.tripod.com
RE: LVL vertical drilling and notching
RE: LVL vertical drilling and notching
The LVL manufacturer, Boise Cascade, has been fowarded the plans from the Architect for review and recommendations.
From what I have been able to determine, this seems as much a point load issue on the notched door header (where the swiss cheesed beam lands) as it is the actual holes drilled themselves.
I understand we all need to eat (I'm a Network Engineer consultant myself ...) but given that the Manufacturer of the LVL is reviewing and will make recommendations to the architect - who will put their P.E. stamp on this - and the contractor is willing to do whatever is sent his way, do you still feel my best interests are served by hiring a Structural Engineer on my own behalf ?
... or should I wait and see what comes back
Thanks Much for the advice
Alan
RE: LVL vertical drilling and notching
Garth Dreger PE - AZ Phoenix area
As EOR's we should take the responsibility to design our structures to support the components we allow in our design per that industry standards.
RE: LVL vertical drilling and notching
And architects aren't PEs - they are architects. Some know what they are doing - most do not!!!
RE: LVL vertical drilling and notching
"Attached is a BC Calc design report that shows the (2) 1 ¾" x 11 ¼" Versa-Lam cut down to a (2) 1 ¾" x 10 ½" deep member.
The member as cut is acceptable"
any advice on what the pdf is saying ?
Thanks
RE: LVL vertical drilling and notching
RE: LVL vertical drilling and notching
RE: LVL vertical drilling and notching
The "Reverse Notch" is more benign. But it is quickly and easily checked by an engineer once you have him/her there to review issue #1.
Mark