What would be the minimum solid-wood beam dimension to support a 10' span supporting 10' floor joists only for a non-bearing wall area. (ie: we are removing interior wall between a kitchen and dining room…a bedroom floor only is located above kitchen and dining room). There is no weight bearing wall located above the span, only a bedroom floor built upon (approx.) 12' floor joists.
Ceiling – Beam dimension determination
beamceiling
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TJIs of some sort making it virtually certain that the wall is not load bearing. The same joists are holding up the same second story over the same span beyond this wall.
If the wall was a properly built load-bearing single-top-plate wall every stud would be exactly under a joist. Its not load-bearing.
If you put a beam across the room you'll feel bad every time you look at it. if you have a flat ceiling, you'll feel proud.
Use joist hangers to put some 2x4s between the ceiling joists so that they pass just above the 2x6 (stuff's going to sag), drill through the top plate from below with a spade bit and screw the 2x6 to the 2x4s remove the wall and top plates patch and plaster the ceiling.
If you can't get into the ceiling to get enough access to fit the hangers you could just lay 2x4s across the top of the ceiling joists and use really long screws, or maybe even come through the roof with threaded rod.
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Best Answer
The Code requires a Live Load (people, furniture, etc.) of 30 lbs. per square foot plus all Dead Loads (joists, subfloor, underlayment, carpet, etc.) Dead load is usually about 10 lbs. per square foot.
So, the Total Load is a minimum of 40 lbs. per square foot.
If your new wood beam has joists that are 10’ long resting on it, you’d have a load of: 10’/2 x 40 psf = 200 lbs. per linear foot. (Half the load will rest on the beam and half will transfer to a wall or other support.)
However, if the new beam has 10’ long joists resting on it from both directions, then you’d have a load of: 10’ x 40 psf = 400 plf.
Therefore, if joists are just spanning one way onto the beam, I’d use a 4x6 spanning 10’ (allowable load is 211 plf), depending on the species and grade. However, if joists are resting on the beam from both directions, I’d use a 4x8 spanning 10’ (allowable load is 400 plf) depending on the species and grade. (I’ve used “select structural” grade for both.)
For both beams, I’d use a 4x4 post and connect it to the beam with a steel connector, like this from Simpson:
https://www.fastenersplus.com/Simpson-EPC4Z-4X-End-Post-Cap-ZMAX-Finish?gclid=CjwKCAjwqqrmBRAAEiwAdpDXtPEhWgfFN3t5VkNWQXQCCTj66l7QkMfB9j2WiAIj2a1ltQrorGAXJxoCTDMQAvD_BwE
Also, I’d make sure the post sits on a footing and is connected to it with a Simpson connector like this one:
https://www.fastenersplus.com/Simpson-ABU44Z-4x4-Adjustable-Post-Base-Zmax-Finish?gclid=CjwKCAjwqqrmBRAAEiwAdpDXtMKhk_lo2NOToXapoUP4b7MPRZad5-csx-D_fpCLj7xPKBsQpgU5zhoCrwgQAvD_BwE
I don’t understand the 12’ span info added at the end.