What Is A Floor Beam In Construction

Some newer homes have manufactured i beam shaped joists.

What is a floor beam in construction.

It is an economical option due to off site manufacture of the beams and blocks fast assembly and little requirement for specialist labour or equipment. A floor s framework is made up mostly of wooden joists that run parallel to one another at regular intervals. In an unfinished basement the beam and jacks are typically left exposed. Construction beams are horizontal weight bearing supports that bridge an area.

They also carry bending moments about one or both of the cross section axes. The beam and block floor system is a popular form of domestic floor construction. Ceiling joists are usually 2 by 6s or sometimes 2 by 4s if it is an older home. Steel beams can be used for beam construction.

When installed at this time beams or joists generally attach to the perimeter of the flooring structure with bolts though in some instances joists may also be bolted to the floor. More traditional post and beam construction also employs a series of diagonal braces that reinforce the beams and help to make the structure rigid. There are both floor and roof beams which are in many cases supported by structural walls. The wood column is nailed to the floor beam above and sits on a concrete pad at its base.

The floor beam itself is commonly hidden by the ceiling tiles of a finished basement while the jacks are usually boxed in and blended into the surrounding area by use of paint paneling or wallpaper. Definition of beams in construction beams are the common nomenclature for any supporting member that spans between two means of support on either end. Post and beam construction is just that. In homes you ll find beams in walls floors ceilings roofs decks and garages.

Unlike wooden beams there is very little variation in beam construction with i beams. In general wood columns are spaced every 8 to 10 feet depending on the strength of the floor beam above it and the load on this beam. Post and beam is visually quite distinct. Floor joists are typically 2 by 8s 2 by 10s or 2 by 12s.

Your local building code may state the size required for such posts. The support can be a column a supporting wall a concrete support etc. These beams are used in large structures as steel can hold much more than wood. Whether they are in a wall floor or foundation of a structure they are made the same way.

A system of horizontal beams that transfer structural loads to a system of vertical posts. The installation of floor joists or beams generally occurs during the building of a house s original structure.