Patio Header

[Woody1111]

I hope someone can help me, I have about a 20-foot wide patio that is pitched out about 11 feet. I had three 4x4 posts and I am eliminating the center one, so I need a new header. The current headers are two 2x6x16 and two 2x6x4 if that makes sense. Butted and overlap so 16 and 4 and 4 and 16.

So, my question is, can I get a 20-foot 2x10 LVL and deadbolt it to the current header and place two posts say one foot from each side? Or get two and deadbolt to current, or take out the current headers and replace them with 2 20foot lvls?

 

[ChorasDen]

Sounds to me like you need to hire a local engineer who is experienced in wood design. We don't offer free engineering on this forum, not the least you are missing some critical information (snow loads, wind loads, roof type, building shape and location, connections, etc). If I am understanding what you've described correctly, the splices in the existing built-up beam would need to be reviewed by a local engineer, as I'm not certain they are even installed correctly as it stands now, let alone after you pull one of the columns, and this engineer would need to create justification for it's continued use, or eliminate the existing built-up beam altogether.

 

[Woody1111]

Thank you for the advice, was not sure if this would be the best place to ask of help, not trying to get free information.

 

[ChorasDen]

There are several reasons why this is the case, but one of the main ones is a liability prospective. Are you really going to trust some random person online to provide good information on a structural system where someone could be hurt? What happens if the system fails, either during construction, or after, who takes responsibility? What good is the responsibility anyway is someone is maimed or dies, not much solace for those directly affected....

Best to talk with a local engineer. Cost of an engineer should not be anything terribly restrictive, particularly for a single beam sizing, and if you break that cost down over the life of the structure, it's pennies. A local engineer will know significantly more about local site requirements, including loading and connection design, than those on the internet.