Cut glue lam

mathew stouffer · 02-28-2012, 07:38 AM

This is a single family home built in 2001. The glue lam has been "notched". The lam is 5x15. Is this acceptable if the engineer approves the installation? I identified it as a notched beam which needs to be evaluated.

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**Rick Bunzel** · 02-28-2012, 10:05 AM

Matt,

This is a good size beam and difficult to know if the notch is OK. Is this for a two story home?

Normally I would refer it out to an engineer but if the local building department is friendly and accessible you could find out if the framing was inspected and approved. I doubt this is a homeowner modification and suspect that the beam was over sized to begin with.

//Rick

**Bob Elliott** · 02-28-2012, 04:13 PM

Does not look right ,especially with the wood blocks being used for extra support.
Defiantly would recommend further evaluation from what I can see.

Off topic I see water on the tarp and question the drain supports.

**Billy Stephens** · 02-28-2012, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by Bob Elliott

Off topic I see water on the tarp and question the drain supports.

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Proper 1/4 inch per foot slope?
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**Jerry McCarthy** · 02-28-2012, 06:01 PM

Mathew, you did right, notching a glu-lam is a no-no unless blessed by an someone with PE after their name.

**Bob Elliott** · 02-28-2012, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by Billy Stephens

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Proper 1/4 inch per foot slope?
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4 foot spacing required and I can see how the elbow might pop up from the weight going to the right. (Back to subject)

mathew stouffer · 02-28-2012, 07:07 PM

Its a two story home, 4000ft. Im going to pass it off, the buyers are lawyers and I don't want to deal with the backlash

**Kristi Silber** · 02-28-2012, 08:27 PM

I don't get it - is this built on the foundation of an old house or something? Why are the walls incomplete?

Strange that there's the big gap between the beginning of the notch, and where it has to be to accomodate the wall. As if they hadn't put a planned stone in.

If that little post is securely attached to a stable base the beam's probably fine, but I can see how you'd want to CYA.

Do HIs routinely ask whether architectural plans are available when inspecting newer houses?

**Nick Ostrowski** · 02-29-2012, 07:00 AM

The beam is made up of 10 layers and a full three have been cut out and a section of the 4th so a full 1/3 of the beam has been removed. Proper planning prevents this type of stuff from ever happening.

**Garry Sorrells** · 02-29-2012, 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by mathew stouffer

Its a two story home, 4000ft. Im going to pass it off, the buyers are lawyers and I don't want to deal with the backlash

Wise move to allow an engineer to accept the responsibility for the load consultations which are required to accept the installation or reject the installation.

Since the clients are lawyers you may want to couch your response with " Engineer required to determine allowable load calculations for altered beam installation... " or something to that effect.