which steel beam to support a 9" solid wall

[DIYedboy]

I will be knocking out the downstairs back wall of a 1930 house. the opening will be about 20 feet. Out of interest, will the builder use one 9inch beam or will he use two 4 inch ones?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

**** me, 20ft opening! Gonna be about half a metre deep, you got that kinda headroom?

 

[DIYedboy]

Yeah, it's a big span...............but I've seen local houses with it done, so it must be doable and I walked under the beam (I'm 6'6") my ceilings are about 8'3"

 

[tony1851]

Depends on several factors, including; whether or not the first-floor joists span on to it, or if it woud be supporting any beam supporting an upstairs wall, or if it will be providing any support to the roof.

For that sort of span, two separate beams might not work due to the sideways-buckling tendency, unless they were well-fixed together. My preference would be to try one of the 203 x 203 column sections first. They are 'H'-shaped and ideal for supporting 9" walls.

 

[alfiembra]

I'm with Freddy on this you need depth of section as well as width, I'd have doubts that a 203 UC can span 6metres. Do you need the clear opening could you split the span up incorporate a post into door or window framing?

Alan

 

[tony1851]

you need depth of section as well as width, I'd have doubts that a 203 UC can span 6metres.

About a year ago I did a 7m span using a 203 x 203 x 47 UC supporting an upper floor/wall/roof. Sure, you have to watch deflection on shallow beams, but in this case it was still below span/360 for the live load.