Beam Size? Need Help

[hunt247]

I am building a free standing outdoor Kitchen. It is 24' x 12' and they only want post in the 4 corners. It will have gable roof with 1 x 4's every 36" for sheet metal roof. Everything will be out of western red cedar. What size beam do need for the 24' span? Also how do I keep the structure from "racking or swaying"? How do i brace it? Concrete is already poured.

[BowSlayer]

edit... just realized you said they only want 4 posts. I have 24' span on my carport and the guy used 2x12's.

[hunt247]

You can't put your beams on the 12' span?

Think about that. What are they going to sit on? Only 4 post in the corners

[BowSlayer]

Think about that. What are they going to sit on? Only 4 post in the corners

Yes, I realized that after I posted. I have a migraine and my brain does not want to function right now.

[hunt247]

edit... just realized you said they only want 4 posts. I have 24' span on my carport and the guy used 2x12's.

2 @ 2 x 12 nailed together will sag and at 24' overtime

[BowSlayer]

2 @ 2 x 12 nailed together will sag and at 24' overtime

Well you obviously know more than me about it so I'll shut up.

Mine has single 2X12's spanned 24' and they haven't sagged in almost 10 years. Guess I'm lucky.

[Bily Lovec]

2 @ 2 x 12 nailed together will sag and at 24' overtime

take a pl. 1/4" or 3/8" x12"(nominal) wide and sandwich it between the two 2x12s.
bolt the mess together.
not sagging

[Dale Moser]

Use lam beams and wrap them in cedar 1X.

[hunt247]

Use lam beams and wrap them in cedar 1X.

Thought about that but what size?

[hunt247]

Well you obviously know more than me about it so I'll shut up.

Mine has single 2X12's spanned 24' and they haven't sagged in almost 10 years. Guess I'm lucky.

Wow, i would like to see how that built that.

[Kcwwcb]

Just finished doing one just like this. I you are going to use Cedar then it will be big 16"x18" type material. Cedar is soft. I used Douglas Fir rough sawn and was able to use 4"x12" beams sitting atop 10"x10" posts. The color of DF will be almost exact to cedar. For the racking I used diagonals kickers at each post. I will try to post a pic in a couple of minutes. the dimensions of mine was 17'x20' with posts only on the corners. Hope this helps. I decked the roof and put R panel at 4:12.

[cbd10pt]

24' is a bit much for a standard double 2x12 beam, I certainly wouldn't want my company name backing that job.

They make treated glue lam beams now.you won't even need to wrap them .

If you go double 2x use a lot of glue and fasteners, also add heavy gauge sheet metal to either side of your plywood. Also use 3/4" plywood . This method will probably cost more than the glue lamb when you add the labor, however you don't need to wait for a special order

[gonzo1only]

what size of post ( columns ) are you using?

[hunt247]

24' is a bit much for a standard double 2x12 beam, I certainly wouldn't want my company name backing that job.

They make treated glue lam beams now.you won't even need to wrap them .

If you go double 2x use a lot of glue and fasteners, also add heavy gauge sheet metal to either side of your plywood. Also use 3/4" plywood . This method will probably cost more than the glue lamb when you add the labor, however you don't need to wait for a special order

good info. Not going to use 2x12's. I want a beam. Will look into the treated glue lam.

[Kcwwcb]

Here is a picture, pre- rock work and roof