I just came out of a crawl space of an older house from 1962 there’s definite signs that the portion I was under was an addition and more than likely not a permitted addition. However in the crawlspace where I would normally find a 4x6 or 4x8 beam supporting the middle of the floor joist I found a PSL beam. The beam appeared to have been cut down in size to fit in the pockets in the foundation. I’m recommending have the whole thing further evaluated by a licensed contractor due to the beam as well as other additional questionable building practices.
Does anybody know anything about these PSL beams with this being okay application?
My concern is the thickness and the load bearing after having been cut down which decreases the load bearing capacity. There was one or i think 6x8 and then this psl. Just kind of concerns me when they start changing materials makes you feel like they use whatever was laying around which based on this house is not a good thing.
Who knows what was designed and approved and what was not? If it was performing, what is the defect? It does not appear to be a field modification, therefore I would send the client back to the seller for plans and permits. You can state your observation such as a modified beam to move them along.
Totally agree here - some of us are quick to say something is wrong just because we haven’t seen it or are not familiar with the methods used. Without being able to point to a specific performance problem as a HI you’re just speculating (and making our profession look bad).
Indeed, PSL’s are quite uniform, and cutting or shaving them is A-OK with the vendors, and tables are available for how strong the resulting beam is.
But that means someone has to pay attention, and calculate out the spans. That could be you… easy enough to head to Boise Cascade’s website and do it. No particular SE skills are needed to calculate a prescriptive beam span.
I’d be more concerned first about each of those footings, and also call out if the PT posts were cut without evidence that the cut ends got treated.
The chemicals in PT lumber only penetrate a small distance.
Thus, when the ends are cut, the cut ends are vulnerable, on top of being end grain touching masonry. And remember that termites don’t like the outside of wood anyway, they go straight for the core.
END-CUT REQUIREMENTS ON PRESSURE-TREATED WOOD
• 2006 IRC & the American Wood Preservers’ Association (AWPA):
2006 IRC, Section R319.1 Protection Against Decay (R319.1.1 & R320.1.2 Field Treatment of End Cuts)
AWPA Standard M4: a preservative must be applied to any end cut on pressure treated wood to prevent decay
and infestation.
This is less of an issue if the PT sides face the masonry, compared to the cut end.
Calculating beam spans is not meant as a substitute for an SE, but as a double check to see if calling one out is warranted. Framers, builders do it all the time, it does not take long, and all sorts of shortcut tables are available.
