Building a stud wall under a beam
Building a stud wall under a beam
(OP)
I am in a dialog with a contractor who wants to install a stud wall under the full length of a beam (5.5x13.5 GLB spanning 15'-8"). The stud wall lands over a girder in the crawl space below. His opinion is that nothing in the crawl space is affected because the GLB beam above the new stud wall is there doing what it would do if the stud wall was not there. My concern is that the new stud wall prevents the GLB from deflecting and therefore "short-circuits" the picking up of load as it would if the wall below was not there. My opinion is that the new studwall will be a bearing wall and therefore the girder below in the crawl space needs to be looked at. Any opinions?






RE: Building a stud wall under a beam
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.
RE: Building a stud wall under a beam
RE: Building a stud wall under a beam
You could make it a non load bearing wall and provide a double top plate with a deflection track. I think there was a thread about this not long ago.
Here's an article:
http://www.woodworks.org/experttip/options-detaili...
Regardless, you'd have to check the crawl space girder to make sure it can handle the weight of the wall (which it probably will).
RE: Building a stud wall under a beam
RE: Building a stud wall under a beam
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Building a stud wall under a beam
RE: Building a stud wall under a beam
RE: Building a stud wall under a beam
RE: Building a stud wall under a beam