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Load bearing walls - load transfer

JStructsteel

Structural
Aug 22, 2002
1,357
Have some roof beams posts down to a wall in the floor below at second floor. Architect is ok with the load being distributed by the wall" the second floor joists. Not something I am comfortable with, even if it did "spread out" the joists are parallel with the wall, so its now just a distributed load instead of a point load.

I want to just put LVL's above the wall and be done with the load down the exterior walls.

Anyone ever do a "distribution thru a wood wall"
 
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I mean, you’re the engineer here I presume. It’s your judgement how to support the loads regardless of what the architect is cool with.

With that said, I’ve done what I think you’re describing many times, at least for existing structures where adding a column in an existing wall would have been problematic.

I would determine the length of wall that I need to spread the load out over and then design a beam under the post using that length as the design span. It’s the same basic idea as having a base plate for a steel column. You’re just spreading out the load enough that the material below can handle the stress.
 
I mean, you’re the engineer here I presume. It’s your judgement how to support the loads regardless of what the architect is cool with.

With that said, I’ve done what I think you’re describing many times, at least for existing structures where adding a column in an existing wall would have been problematic.

I would determine the length of wall that I need to spread the load out over and then design a beam under the post using that length as the design span. It’s the same basic idea as having a base plate for a steel column. You’re just spreading out the load enough that the material below can handle the stress.
Sorry, I was saying just put the beam in, and build the partition up to the beam. Im preferring not to spread it out in a wall down to a floor joist below that then needs to take the load. Somewhere a beam will be needed. The walls dont go all the way to the basement.
 

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