notching

[Marc M]

This constitute notching in the center of the beam?

[Garry Sorrells]

Is it a curved section above the fan mount that you are referring to?
Was looking for sharp angles.

[Billy Stephens]

This constitute notching in the center of the beam?

Nope.
Looks like a 3 piece box beam with the electrical supply inside the u shape. Structural support would be coming from the 2 side pieces.

[Marc M]

Pretty sure its one piece 4x. Its drilled from top to the bottom.

[John Kogel]

It is not a notch. I am not a structural engineer. :D

The lower face of the beam is in tension, and most of the fibers running past the fan are still intact, assuming the hole diam is about 3/4". Usual practice is to use a surface-mounted pancake style j box there and pull a single cable to it from the switch box. But we can't be sure what they did from this pic.

Billy, your eyes are bad or very very good. That beam looks solid to me too.

[Billy Stephens]

Billy, your eyes are bad or very very good. That beam looks solid to me too.
.
Yeah Thanks, :D
Urban Dictionary: Eh hole (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Eh%20hole)
.

[Marc M]

Okay...you're right. Hole.
They drilled from top to bottom then inserted NM through it.

[Garry Sorrells]

Ok. Was trying to look for a notch in the wood surface.

The beam looks like a ridge beam. If so, ignoring the size of the rafters, a 1/2" hole through what looks like a 4x12+ beam would not have much effect on the presence use of the beam.

[John Kogel]

.
Yeah Thanks,
Urban Dictionary: Eh hole (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Eh%20hole)
.Takes one to know one, eh? :D

[Billy Stephens]

Takes one to know one, eh? :D
.
Oh ya caught that EH ? :cool:
.

[Darrel Hood]

If it is a ridge beam and, as it appears, the rafters are opposed, then for practical purposes the beam is carrying no load. In that case, the beam size is only a cosmetic choice.

[Mark Reinmiller]

It looks like a rather low pitch roof. If there are no ceiling joists the ridge beam would be structural. Notching is much worse than drilling a hole. The strength of a beam is proportional to the square of the depth. Deflection is proportional to the 4th power. The strength and deflection are directly proportional to the width, so a reduction in width has much less effect. A 1/2 inch hole might reduce the strength of the beam by about 15 percent, but likely a bit less. I would get concerned if the hole was much larger than 1/2".

[Darrel Hood]

Mark,
Please, teach me. There is clearly a significant if not steep pitch. I'm guessing a 2 - 4
pitch. I don't understand how opposed rafters with a significant pitch are incapable of supporting themselves without a ridge beam. Therefore, I need to learn what makes the beam structural. Also, I don't comprehend the relevance of ceiling joists to this conversation. That's something else I need to learn. Thanks.

[Ray Thornburg]

Mark,
Please, teach me. There is clearly a significant if not steep pitch. I'm guessing a 2 - 4
pitch. I don't understand how opposed rafters with a significant pitch are incapable of supporting themselves without a ridge beam. Therefore, I need to learn what makes the beam structural. Also, I don't comprehend the relevance of ceiling joists to this conversation. That's something else I need to learn. Thanks.

When there are no ceiling joists or collar ties the rafters will push the outside bearing walls outward. Therefore the ridge has to be designed as a beam to support the weight and prevent outward thrust.

[Thom Huggett]

It looks like a rather low pitch roof. If there are no ceiling joists the ridge beam would be structural. Notching is much worse than drilling a hole. The strength of a beam is proportional to the square of the depth. Deflection is proportional to the 4th power. The strength and deflection are directly proportional to the width, so a reduction in width has much less effect. A 1/2 inch hole might reduce the strength of the beam by about 15 percent, but likely a bit less. I would get concerned if the hole was much larger than 1/2".


When there are no ceiling joists or collar ties the rafters will push the outside bearing walls outward. Therefore the ridge has to be designed as a beam to support the weight and prevent outward thrust.

Both of you explained it well, I agree!

[Darrel Hood]

I think I understand that you are assuming the beam to be supported by king posts on each end?

[Thom Huggett]

I think I understand that you are assuming the beam to be supported by king posts on each end?

I hope it has posts at each end because the rafters sure aren't supporting it! :o Although we haven't seen all aspects of this member, I think it is clearly a ridge "beam" and not a ridge "board".

[Mark Reinmiller]

A ridge beam must be supported by columns at the ends. BTW, to me king posts are part of a particular style of truss. I have never heard the term used otherwise.

Regarding ridge beams, ceiling joists are only effective for lateral restraint of rafters down to about a 3/12 pitch. Below that pitch the lateral forces get so large that it is very difficult to make adequate connections.

[Andrew Constantine]

I wouldn't make a big deal about it. I've never seen a beam break from a 1" hole drilled in it. Just my 2 cents...

Andrew Constantine
InspectPro Home Inspections
Charlotte NC Home Inspector (http://inspectprohomeinspections.com/meet-the-inspector/2-2/)
Charlotte Home Inspections (http://charlotte-home-inspections.com)