Cripples above LVL's

[mattradk]

I'm planning to specify the use of a 9.5"x3.5" LVL as a header over a 16' wide garage door opening. In placing the LVL to allow for the required vertical rough opening, there will be 4" of space between the top of the LVL and the two top plates of the wall.

The garage is being built with 2x6 walls. In placing 4" cripples to fill the space above the LVL, you'd be putting 2x6 cripples (5.5" wide) on a 3.5 wide beam.

I could sandwich some 1/2" plywood between the LVL and a 2x10, but a 2x10 is 9.25" wide.

Any suggestions for filling this 4" space? Maybe a combination of 2x6's placed horizontally with an appropriate thickness of plywood to fill any thicknesses less than 1.5"?

 

[NorthCivil]

"Any suggestions for filling this 4" space? Maybe a combination of 2x6's placed horizontally with an appropriate thickness of plywood to fill any thicknesses less than 1.5"?"

you've answered your own question. a couple 2x4s on flat with a strip of plywood to pack. Do not do the short cripple idea - its not good.

If you havent bought your lumber yet, I would use 3-2x12's instead of 2 9.5" LVLs, and shim with 2x6 material and plywood to suit.

 

[XR250]

9 1/4" LVL seems light for a 16 ft span unless it is not carrying anything. Have you checked deflection? I agree that using (3)2x12 is a better idea.

 

[kmart30]

Use 2X6 cripples, nail a 2x10 and a 1/2" plywood to the LVL's and call it a day. If not then the drywall hangers will figure something out

 

[wannabeSE]

I think you may have problems with 4” high cripples splitting at the nails.

 

[mattradk]

Thanks for your responses. The deflection with the (3) 2x12's will work, so I think I'll go with that. The door is in gable end of the one-story garage, and the truss is really carrying the majority of the load anyway. The practice in my area is to design a header with trusses as though it's bearing all of the applicable live, dead and snow load by itself. It drives me crazy.

 

[EngineeringEric]

Just to clarify: if it is a simple ladder framed gable end truss then your header is taking all of the load. a structural gable end is very different.

 

[struct_eeyore]

eh, I would just make the header 5 1/2"...