Engineered Lumber Beams - Different Ones in This House

[@strongbredbreeder]

Thanks!

[@askthebuilder]

You are TOO generous!!!! Thanks so much!!!

[@mikieboyblue]

I'm becoming a fan of floor joist trusses which use 2x webbing like a roof truss. I can't wait to get a chance to use one. No more drilling and notching. And no glue issues to worry about with engineered joists.

[@askthebuilder]

You should watch my Floor Truss video.

[@mikieboyblue]

@@askthebuilder, will do! I'm catching up on a lot of your videos.

[@seephor]

I'm with you on being old school with plywood Tim. It only took me placing a piece of OSB in my back yard for a day in the rain to know that it's an inferior product compared to construction grade plywood. I have similar feelings about the engineered floor joists. it only takes a little moisture down the width of the OSB joist and the entire joist can fail. Nothing I'm comfortable with going to sleep knowing.

[@askthebuilder]

Yep, I'm not a big fan of most engineered lumber. That said, in the last house I built for my family I did install two giant LVLs that were triples. I can remember driving all those 16d nails by hand!

[@seephor]

@@askthebuilder I think there’s a big difference between LVLs and OSB type products even though they’re both “engineered”. I wouldn’t put them in the same category

[@seephor]

@@askthebuilder I know what you mean with the nailing schedule on those LVL. I sandwiched two for a 16’ garage header and I think it was 3 nails vertical every foot. Not fun hammering by hand

[@jamessiedjak5868]

Thanks!

[@askthebuilder]

If only more viewers were as generous as you. Thanks so much.

[@matthewlucas7078]

Hey Tim. Do you happen to know the square footage for the finished house? I hope they'll have it buttoned up by mid November.

[@askthebuilder]

The foundation, not counting the lower garage, measures about 28 x 44. I'm going to assume that it's a two-story house on top of the foundation. So that puts it just under 2,500 square feet. If this is what happens, it's almost identical to the size of my daughter's home I helped build in Bar Harbor three years ago. Here's a photo of it with the garage to the left: photos.app.goo.gl/JN3Tyknpm3uDo3XB9

[@samash1704]

A/C plywood is also made with glue and has withstood the test of time.

[@askthebuilder]

Yes, I couldn't agree more. Plywood is probably the first engineered wood product made back in 1865. But it wasn't until the early 1900s that a man created the necessary lathe that made modern plywood possible. All that said, if the glue fails, then bad things happen.

[@seephor]

Sam. There is a difference. The construction of plywood is such that the glue is protected by the veneers of wood (except the edges). OSB is its raw form exposes the glue all around the product. This causes failure from moisture with very little exposure. Advantac knew this and they treat their OSB with a sealant that resists water. But the product is only as good as this coating.

[@mikieboyblue]

Thanks!

[@askthebuilder]

MANY thanks Mike!