Load Take Downs for Residential Structures
Load Take Downs for Residential Structures
(OP)
When I start a project I usually determine my vertical loads first.
I will manually calculate the roof loads, floor loads, dead weight wall loads etc... as they are applied to the rafters, trusses and floor joists and resolve these into the beams, headers, bearing walls and columns as appropriate. Usually my areas are quite small so live load reductions don't factor in. Also it is usually quite clear form the outset whether the snow or live roof load will govern so I can usually eliminate one or the other from my calcs to simplify things.
I've been thinking lately though it would be nice to have a software that could help with this process. Does such a product already exist? If not I think it might be interesting to invest some time and effort into programming such a product if others might find some utility in it.
My biggest concern with the manual method I currently employ is the possibility of calculation errors and not having a way of checking my numbers with some independent method. On occasion I have found myself forgetting to divide the reactions from a floor joist by the correct on center spacing which has either over engineered the affected beam or under sized it, obviously one more serious than the other.
A load take down software would be a useful checking tool in my opinion but I am wondering what others are currently doing or what their opinion is on the matter.
I will manually calculate the roof loads, floor loads, dead weight wall loads etc... as they are applied to the rafters, trusses and floor joists and resolve these into the beams, headers, bearing walls and columns as appropriate. Usually my areas are quite small so live load reductions don't factor in. Also it is usually quite clear form the outset whether the snow or live roof load will govern so I can usually eliminate one or the other from my calcs to simplify things.
I've been thinking lately though it would be nice to have a software that could help with this process. Does such a product already exist? If not I think it might be interesting to invest some time and effort into programming such a product if others might find some utility in it.
My biggest concern with the manual method I currently employ is the possibility of calculation errors and not having a way of checking my numbers with some independent method. On occasion I have found myself forgetting to divide the reactions from a floor joist by the correct on center spacing which has either over engineered the affected beam or under sized it, obviously one more serious than the other.
A load take down software would be a useful checking tool in my opinion but I am wondering what others are currently doing or what their opinion is on the matter.
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com






RE: Load Take Downs for Residential Structures
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Load Take Downs for Residential Structures
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com
RE: Load Take Downs for Residential Structures
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Load Take Downs for Residential Structures
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com
RE: Load Take Downs for Residential Structures
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com
RE: Load Take Downs for Residential Structures
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com
RE: Load Take Downs for Residential Structures
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com
RE: Load Take Downs for Residential Structures
RE: Load Take Downs for Residential Structures
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com
RE: Load Take Downs for Residential Structures
RE: Load Take Downs for Residential Structures
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com
RE: Load Take Downs for Residential Structures
If my actual calcs are within 10% of that then I haven't made any glaring errors.
And then it's about 80-90 psf per floor including bearing walls.
At least that's how I do my quick sanity check.
The more open concept of the residence the more my plan breaks down. But that's the nature of open concept houses.
RE: Load Take Downs for Residential Structures
If you want a sanity check, you could add up all the reactions and compare to total loading.
When I am working on a problem, I never think about beauty but when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong.
-R. Buckminster Fuller