garage roof with no rafter or collar ties.

[Jim Andrew]

When you purchase a beam like that, an engineer sizes the beam for you. I mean the company selling the beam has a person who looks at the application and sizes the beam, so the city building inspection office will OK the building.

[Bill Dufour]

My understanding is that, in Califorina, as long as it is all wood any builder can build a house with no engineering if it is two stories or less, maybe three. If they use a steel beam they have to get an engineer to sign off on that part of the structure. I assume that is also true for steel studs?
Bill D.

[Rick Potter]

Just finishing a new garage addition built that way. I wanted as much height as I could get for possible future car lift.

Garage is 22'Wide and 32' long, with the ridge beam being 23' or so long and if I remember correctly it is gluelam that is about 7 1/2" wide and 24" tall.

Lifted it with a small crane. Big posts holding it up with bolts into a 24" foundation. The whole garage is shear paneled for rigidity. Wide open inside.

[Bill Dufour]

Any idea how much that beam cost? Would a steel beam be cheaper? I assume that is a special order item with some lead time required.
Bil lD.

[David Helm]

Generally with a simple roof the ridge board is just for nailing and has no structural purpose. This sounds like a structural ridge which actually carries the rafter load.

[Rick Potter]

Mine was certainly structural.

Sorry Bill, I don't remember what it cost, but it was not cheap.

[Mike Kees]

Bill if you were going to build using this system the engineered wood products, LVL ,etc. would be the way to go. Engineered by an engineer being key. Structural steel beams are actually cheaper here in Alberta. I have used them in houses for basement beams. The problem with steel is if there is a house fire. It apparently if not fire protected well enough can turn into a noodle and allow the structure to collapse. A built up wood beam or wood product will burn or char but at a much slower rate than the rest of the house so usually remain intact enough too hold structure up longer. We have to cover steel beams with a double layer of type X fireguard drywall here for code.