1793
Senior Member
- Location
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Occupation
- Inspector
I was at a job the other day at a new home and I went into the basement of this two story house. I was surprised at what I saw. I was under the impression that size and number of holes would weaken the strength of the beam.
I was at a job the other day at a new home and I went into the basement of this two story house. I was surprised at what I saw. I was under the impression that size and number of holes would weaken the strength of the beam.
Visit the trade group for the rules. It's the "engineered wood association," or www.apawood.org .
The short version: there's no way those holes are allowed.
Field made? I think so. Factory KO's never line up that well. Someone just did a very neat job.
You're right ... the size and placement of the holes does matter- and the 'rules' are quite different than they are for ordinary lumber. They're different, yet again, for gluelams.
You might lose that bet. See here for some info on Trus Joist. The TJI 110 product is available with an overall depth of 9-1/2" with a web of 7" and allows a 6-1/2" rectangular hole at 4'6" from an end support, so you have just 1/4" of web left top and bottom. I can't tell from the photo for sure, but it looks like there's enough web left. I'd say the holes could definitely have been field cut.