• What can be cooked from squid: quick and tasty

    From wooden I-beams, roof systems are mounted with their own hands and lintels are built between floors. This modern material is produced according to international standards with the use of advanced technology, which makes it possible to obtain an excellent construction product of a new generation. This is an excellent solution for private construction of all types of structures, from a frame house or block construction to a wooden tower from a log house.

    Scope of use

    The I-beam is found not only in private construction, but is also an integral attribute on construction sites where industrial premises, shopping centers, office buildings, etc. are mounted. low-rise buildings this wooden element acts as a supporting structure in the rafter system, in attics, wall and roof frames in attics.

    I-beam belts are made of solid wood and the cross member is made of particle board

    With the help of such a solution, it is possible to refuse from flooring from boards, metal profiles and reinforced concrete slabs. Such beams are composed of a combination of materials: the chords are made of solid wood, and the cross member is made of particle board. These hardwood floors more than triple the stiffness of the walls, so that the frame structure gains strength without significantly increasing the weight.

    Technical specifications

    The modern floor material is produced commercially on a state-of-the-art production line. For its manufacture, glued wooden beams, carefully dried in a chamber, and particle board (OSB, OSP) are used. The configuration of the beam is very similar to the rail and has the following features:

    Standard sizes beams
    • plywood, from which the side posts are assembled, is resistant to moisture, its thickness can vary in the range of 24 - 27 mm. Also, the structure of the beam includes a shelf made of wood, treated with an antiseptic;
    • the plywood rack is integrated into the shelves using technological grooves;
    • the parts are interconnected with a water-resistant adhesive composition;
    • the outside of the beam is covered with water-repellent paint.

    The most demanded overlap sizes:

    • beam dimensions - 200x80 mm;
    • plywood lintel thickness - 27 mm.

    Positive characteristics

    The successful combination "wood - particle board - wood" eliminates the disadvantages that are found in natural wood. The I-section serves as a kind of amplifier, due to which the strength of the lintel increases many times, and the product, by its own technical specifications can safely stand in a row with concrete and reinforced concrete ceilings.

    The structural features present here bring the I-beam frame element to a leading position among the structures of a similar purpose, which are used in low-rise construction.

    Main advantages

    The indisputable advantage of the lintel is its extreme strength and rigidity, which endow the wooden floors with resistance to intense loads. If the installation technology is followed, the self-installed support will not cause the floor to squeak. It does not bend, which the usual timber lumber cannot boast of.

    Timber floors are very strong, resistant to heavy loads

    Support structures of this type are created according to all industrial standards and meet the requirements for products in this segment. At the stage of release, products undergo quality control, as evidenced by certificates.

    Despite all the operational power, the jumper weighs very little, which means that its installation will be simple and convenient, and can be done by hand, and besides, there is no need for heavy equipment, and this is an indisputable plus. The entire construction process is carried out by a team of craftsmen who install the roofing element with their own hands, as mentioned earlier. The weight of one element, 6.5 m long, does not exceed 40 kg, due to which an additional critical load is not created on the base of the house.

    The workmanship here is so high that deformation is not a question, but the whole point is in the unique configuration of the support. This building material is not susceptible to drying out, unlike a wooden bar, and corrosion is not worth mentioning here at all for obvious reasons - with iron ceilings, everything is different and they are significantly inferior to an I-beam in this part of the question.

    The I-beam is not subject to the shrinkage process, does not swell and does not twist due to climatic changes, as is the case with wooden beams... The low thermal conductivity of the beam ensures that the cold bridge is reduced, and the room does not lose precious heat.

    At the factory, according to the technology, wooden floors this sample must be treated with antiseptics and fire-fighting compounds.

    Thanks to the special thought-out design of the I-beam, you can lay trunk communications with your own hands without prejudice to its bearing capacity, and the saving of living space is obvious.

    We calculate the height of the section of the I-beam

    Most often, they resort to help to calculate the height of the support online calculator, which automatically calculates all the necessary parameters. To choose the right type of roofing element, you need to specify some data, namely:

    • scope of use;
    • step between roof elements;
    • required length;
    1. Rafter system - 220 kg / sq.m.
    2. I-beam floor - 400 kg / sq.m.

    The price of the product varies from the dimensions of the beam and the material from which the shelf is created (natural wood, LVL timber).

    Assembly process

    Most often, the most acceptable way to install wooden I-beams is to fix them on special brackets with a special symmetrical design. On opposite sides, the product is provided with a fastening device and a plate that is fixed against a similar fastening element.


    I-beam floor assembly scheme

    Taking into account the dimensions, and to be absolutely precise, the height of the combined timber and chipboard beam, the structural element can be equipped with fasteners of different lengths.

    Safety rules

    By doing installation work on the installation of I-beams, initially they need to be fixed with temporary elements, which are then changed to permanent stationary clamps. For safety reasons, it is strictly forbidden to start operating the beams until the craftsmen supply them with strapping and the temporary holders are removed.

    Dismantling can be carried out only after the craftsmen make sure that there is a strapping on the beams. Fixed exclusively with temporary clamps, I-beams are only able to withstand the weight of workers and installation equipment. It is very important to know that defective or deformed beams are not repaired by hand or in production and cannot be installed in their seats, under any circumstances.

    Transportation and storage

    During the movement of the overlap, it should never be loaded along the minor axis, otherwise the material may bend and bend. When loading beams, they must not be thrown, but only folded neatly. Supports are stored under awnings and in covered warehouses. If this is not possible, and the structural elements are outdoors in the open air, they must be protected from ultraviolet radiation and precipitation with a special material.


    Softwood lumber is excellent building material... Almost any can be made of a board / timber structural element at home, or build a completely wooden cottage. The ductility and versatility of wood allows engineers to come up with innovative, non-standard solutions that open up more opportunities. One such innovation is the precast I-beam.

    Why do you need prefabricated materials

    Everyone knows that the bearing capacity of wooden elements of a building directly depends on the massiveness of their section. The more the load is planned, the larger the bar or board should be. In some cases, manual calculations or calculators show the need to use very large cross sections. Because of this, the developer has a number of problems:

    • Large lumber is expensive.
    • Massive board / timber - weighs a lot and overload the supporting structures of the building (walls, foundation).
    • Large cross-section sawn timber, even when dried, is prone to sagging under its own weight, cracking, and warping.
    • Sometimes it can be difficult to buy the right lumber for various reasons.
    • In an array of such products, very often one has to deal with various natural defects, which reduce the strength characteristics of the product.
    • Work on the laying of hidden communications becomes more complicated.
    • The heat and sound insulation of subsystems decreases due to the high content of wood and low content insulating materials in a specific system.

    It was largely for economic and practical reasons that people began experimenting with creating large load-bearing elements from small lumber. For example:

    • Twist a wall beam from several boards
    • Make a high rectangular bar from two small bars stacked on top of each other with edges
    • Create roof trusses from a relatively thin bar
    • Collect all kinds of T-contract

    What is an I-beam

    I-beams made of steel or wood have been used in construction for a long time. This is a generally accepted cross-section of load-bearing elements, which in shape is most closely related to the letter "H". Calculations show that this geometry provides a much higher spatial rigidity than products of a square / rectangular cross-section or, for example, a channel.

    By the way, it is believed that the name of such a product comes from the Latin word "taurus" - a bull, that is, a two-horned profile. In some European languages, similar material is called "H-shaped" (H-shaped) or "double-T" (double T). We have the abbreviation BDK-1, which also means "I-beam".

    Wooden I-beams came to us from North America where a lot of building on frame technologies... Now they are actively gaining positions in the post-Soviet space. And I must say, not at all unsuccessfully.

    Construction and types of I-beams

    Any I-beam consists of three elements... This is a combination that can be described by the formula:

    • The upper belt is made of a bar.
    • Wall (or rack, bulkhead).
    • The lower belt is made of timber.

    The elements of the beam work together under load, but the main task of the chords from the bar is to provide planes for convenient installation, sheathing, and integration of the beam into the structure of the house. And also the belts do not allow the beam to bend along the short axis, do not allow the beam to twist. The wall, on the other hand, is a stiffening rib; it mainly ensures the resistance of the product to deflection along the long axis, in other words, the main bearing characteristics.

    Belts are usually made of solid dry wood, in the overwhelming majority of cases a bar of the first, sometimes second grade is used. There are options with the use of a bar glued according to the LVL technology - from veneer, like plywood. But they are still a rarity in our country. The nomenclature of the cross-section of the bars is quite diverse, ranging from products of 40X40 mm, up to 40X60 or 90X40 mm. Moreover, when assembling a beam, manufacturers can orient the bar in space in different ways.

    The wall is mainly made of two sheet materials: Plywood or OSB. Some firms also make interesting models of beams, where instead of wood-containing materials, galvanized profiled sheets are used.
    The plywood wall is made, as a rule, from strips of birch plywood of the FSF brand, which is distinguished by excellent strength, moisture resistance, elasticity. The thickness of the plywood stiffener is usually 24-27 mm. When using oriented strand board as a stand, OSB-3 is used, which, like FSF plywood, resists moisture well and shows decent strength characteristics. The thickness of the OSB bulkheads is not so great, usually from 10 to 15 mm.

    Bulkhead height with chords as standard is 200-250 mm. But enterprises also produce beams up to 400-450 mm in height. The higher the product, the more bending load it can withstand. It makes no sense to make higher I-beams (due to significant losses in the volume of the internal space), it is better to increase the number of beams (reduce the step - instead of 50 or 62.5 cm to 40 cm) or make fewer spans by using support elements... Alternatively, the beams can be doubled in thickness using perforated plates or threaded ties.

    The technology of assembling such beams is interesting. It is carried out by gluing. A double tenon is pre-cut on a strip of plywood. In this case, the stand should enter the belts by 15-20 mm. For the mutual fixation of the struts and chords of the beam, a high-strength, waterproof and heat-resistant wood glue, such as "Kleyberite", is used. The gluing process often takes place under pressure, with careful control of the holding of the specified geothermal forms. As a rule, the connection is made in accordance with the provisions of GOST 19414-90.

    The length of wooden beams with a cross-section of I-beams in the standard factory version is usually from 4.5 to 6.5 meters. But, of course, you can order items 1-3 meters, or longer beams - 8-9 meters or more. By the way, if you wish, you can always cut a long beam on site for any multiplicity, this is not difficult to do with any carpentry tool.

    Like any other lumber, wood beams are treated with antiseptics and fire protection. Products intended for completing formwork are painted with weather-resistant durable paint, which provides a large number of cycles of use.

    Advantages of Creating and Using Timber I-Beams

    • Increased bearing characteristics. Manages to overlap large spans and reduce the spacing.
    • Precision and shape stability. Such products twist less, they do not dry out, do not crack, do not swell. No problems with squeaks, leaks, sagging, etc. deviations from the declared dimensions are minimal (about 0.5-1 mm in width, thickness and straightness of edges / edges).
    • Possibility to get non-standard floor sizes any conditions. Large selection of standard sizes.
    • Low weight, which on average is about half that of a massive one-piece product with similar load-bearing capabilities.
    • Prefabricated timber and plywood / OSB beams do not have critical defects that would reduce strength.
    • Improved fire resistance and biostability of the resulting structures.
    • Reduced material consumption of glued beams.
    • High degree of readiness, high speed of installation, can be installed all year round. Normal carpenter's tools are used, no cranes are needed. It is not difficult to do a rough filing, since the installation of cranial bars is not required.
    • It is convenient to lay communications inside structures, including through beams. More space for insulation / soundproofing, a large layer of insulation can be applied. The insulation holds perfectly even without rough hemming due to the T-shape.
    • It is possible to independently manufacture a prefabricated H-shaped beam.
    • You can hem ceilings and flooring directly on top of these beams.
    • It can be resting on a wall or a monolithic belt, it can be fastened using brackets "holders of beams" (for this, additional plates of OSB or plywood are first sewn between the belts near the ends).
    • Versatility in application.

    Where lumber I-beams are used

    In fact, the scope of use of such products is very wide, it is by no means limited to ordinary interfloor ceilings in wooden cottages... Although this can be considered a classic of the genre for both wooden and stone houses of the most different designs... So where can they be applied:

    • Creation of intermediate floors.
    • As a floor lag.
    • Like the rafters of a pitched roof, like a ridge.
    • Walls of various frame structures.
    • Manufacturing of long lintels over gates, panoramic windows,
    • For performing monolithic works (girders for exposing horizontal formwork).
    • Creation of vertical formwork, including for the implementation of monolithic columns.

    The task of the floors in the building is to perform the load-bearing and enclosing functions, to ensure the spatial rigidity of the structure, its stability, to separate the floors, to interconnect the walls, transferring the load to them. In low-rise construction, there are several options for arrangement. One of them is overlapping with metal beams. They can also be used for attic and basement floors.

    Benefits of metal floors

    Metal structures, unlike wooden beams, are more reliable in terms of fire safety, resistance to biological threats (mold, fungus). They:
    • much stronger than wooden beams, with a lower thickness, they can withstand heavy loads. Their use allows you to save space, give more useful space;
    • can be laid on spans up to 24 meters. The I-beam (channel) section of rolled metal remains static, resistant to changes in the amplitude of overlaps, and is not subject to deflections.
    Many of the disadvantages of metal floors include low heat-insulating, sound-insulating parameters, as well as the likelihood of corrosion. The latter can be prevented by thorough anti-corrosion treatment of the metal before installation. To eliminate the shortcomings in sound insulation, the ends of the I-beams are wrapped in felt, tightly embedded in brick walls cement mortar, fixed with anchor bolts.


    The large weight of the metal may require the use of a crane during the installation of the structure. Resize, trim, or grow beams using welding machine, it will be very difficult. As a result, it is necessary to very accurately measure the dimensions of the spans before ordering rolled metal at the enterprise.

    The only limitations in the use of floors on metal beams are the financial side, as well as the size, type of structure. The load-bearing part of the building, the walls of the building must withstand the weight of the rolled metal, therefore, before buying materials, it is necessary to calculate the loads on the beam floors.

    Calculation of beam floors

    When choosing the section of I-beams, channel or corner, the installation step (no more than one meter), the span width, the total load from the roof and the run-up are taken into account. For attic floor calculated value 75 kg / sq. m. When arranging interfloor and basement floors, the working load is almost doubled (150 kg / sq. m), so the section of long products is also increased. It must have sufficient bearing capacity.

    Types of floor slabs on metal beams

    In the construction of private houses, cottages, roll-ups on the floor over metal beams do:
    • wooden, when the openings between the channels are filled with boards. This is a flammable filling variant;
    • using a lightweight reinforced concrete slab (fireproof filling);
    • monolithic;
    • monolithic on the supporting corrugated board, the latter has a high profile and additional stiffeners.
    Arranging a wooden flooring on metal beams, wooden shields are laid between the I-beams. From below, shingles are nailed to them and the ceiling of the lower floor is plastered. To equip the floor of the upper floor, wooden logs are placed on steel beams, and the floor is on them. In the space between the floor and the shields, waterproofing of the corresponding elements is arranged, soundproofing material is poured.


    When using prefabricated reinforced concrete slabs, they are laid on the upper and lower shelves of the I-beam, making the lower reinforced concrete slabs caulk with cement mortar and sprinkling sound insulation on them. A mesh is welded to the beams from below, along which the ceiling is plastered. You can put the OSB on top, and then the floor.

    The reinforced concrete monolith has best performance in comparison with reinforced concrete slabs. Due to the monolithic structure, it has better thermal insulation and sound absorption parameters. When starting to calculate a monolithic floor on metal beams, take the outer perimeter of the load-bearing wall as a basis. Use waterproof plywood to create the formwork, hold it in place with temporary supports. To independently calculate the thickness of the slab, select an assortment of reinforcement or mesh for reinforcement, use the appropriate reference books and manuals for design and reinforcement reinforced concrete structures, SNIPs.


    The manufacture of a monolithic floor on a profiled sheet is a relatively new technology. On top of the steel beams, a corrugated board (permanent formwork) is fixed with self-tapping screws, and the sheets are attached to each other with them. To eliminate the subsidence of the profiled sheets, temporary supports are placed under them. To increase the strength of the structure, reinforcing rods are placed in the grooves of the profiled sheet.


    Correct calculations, adherence to installation technology and the quality of materials - all this determines the quality of the interfloor overlap.

    Do-it-yourself wooden floors in a private house have pros and cons. The advantages include the environmental properties of wood. Its natural warmth, texture and smell. In addition, when erecting a floor on wooden beams, the use of special equipment... Log - not concrete slab to be lifted and stacked using a truck crane. The disadvantages also stem from the properties of the wood. Under the influence of temperature and moisture, the tree is able to "move". Unlike a monolithic or slab floor, a wooden one is not solid. This means that heat and sound insulation of wooden structures must be performed in accordance with all the rules. Only then will heat and sound not pass between floors.

    What is noise and sound insulation

    Heat losses through the ceiling and roof, according to accepted standards in construction, can be 15%. On its way up, it passes through gaps and crevices in the ceiling. Together with the heat, sounds and noises walk up and down the cracks. If the entire cycle of insulation measures is correctly carried out at the level of the boundary between the floors, then you can build a reliable barrier to heat and sounds at the same time.

    Noises and sounds are, by their physical nature, wave vibration. It can be generated:

    • acoustic sounds. This is human speech, music, animal sounds transmitted live or through television, radio equipment or a computer. The degree of protection against acoustic noise (Rw index) must be at least 45 decibels for floors;
    • sounds from impacts. For example, the clatter of heels, sounds from falling objects or furniture moving. The degree of penetration of sounds from knocking and fidgeting (index Lmw) in a dwelling should not exceed the limit level of 66 decibels;
    • sounds from loads on supporting structures and fasteners in them. These are all kinds of creaks of screws, bolts, with the help of which the wooden floor is assembled.

    Noises and sounds spread easily through space. They can also pass through the materials of the baffles. Obstacles to sound should be built not only between the main supporting wooden structures, but also to cut off noise from contact with all surfaces. This applies to both beams and wood materials ceiling and floor finishes.

    It is possible to achieve low audibility in vertically adjacent rooms, even if the ceiling is made of wood. For this purpose, it is necessary to understand the nature of noise. A modern materials and building technologies will help you get the best possible result.

    Wooden floor on beams

    Timber support structures are often used as spacers. For perfect sound isolation, this is not very good. After all, the tree itself is a conductor of sound. All the more so if the beams rest on walls, which take over and conduct noise. It is possible to significantly reduce the permeability of noise along the beams between floors. To do this, you need to isolate the beams from contact with the wall using roofing felt.

    If it is a brick wall, then the ends of the beams must be wrapped with roofing material. In places where the beams rest on a brick wall, put roofing material, and on top of it - a thin wooden gasket.

    You should get such a "pie": brick - roofing felt - gasket made of wood - the end of the beam in a ring of roofing material - air opening - wall.

    The same principle applies to walls made of any stone, concrete or composite material.

    A similar method of laying beams is also applicable for houses, mansard and balcony walls made of wood. The only difference is that in the case of a wooden wall, it is enough to simply wind the beams with roofing felt at the points of contact with the surface. Roofing material or waterproofing cuts off the unhindered penetration of noises and sounds along the wall through the beam. If the thickness of the floor without taking into account the finishing of the ceiling and floor is equal to the height of the beam, then this measure will significantly change the final indices Rw and Lmw for the better.

    The second option for arranging wooden interfloor floors is to put logs along the beams. Then the floor will be laid on these logs. Draft or basic. In this case, it is much easier to cut off the sounds transmitted along the walls. To do this, you just need to prepare the logs of such a size so that they do not reach the wall by 15 - 25 mm and lay them across the beams. Then the wall will not be close to the floor.

    Airways between the wall and the beams, and subsequently the floor, will be filled with soundproofing material. Its soft structure will dampen the sound vibrations of the walls and will not let them through to the floor. The skirting board will need to be fixed to the wall, not to the floor. He will also not be a conductor of sound.

    An antiseptic-soaked felt tape is enough to keep the sound from the walls on the beams.

    Important!

    The upper sides of the silent beams must be insulated with a felt pad, regardless of whether the floor lies on beams or on joists.

    Advice!

    Work to isolate the floor from "shock" sound should be started with wooden beams.

    Some of the sound waves are able to penetrate the walls between floors. It is very important to insulate wood beams from the wall. Then part of the noise can be cut off already at this stage. Mutual noise insulation of the upper and lower rooms using this technology will be much more effective.

    Wooden floor of a house

    Materials for soundproofing wooden floors

    At the stage of erection of structures, care must be taken to reduce the impact of impact noise. Next, you can move on to isolating acoustic sound. For this purpose, you will need soft, fibrous, porous materials. Their structure is not monolithic. Thanks to the internal voids, fibrous and porous materials absorb acoustic sounds and noises.

    These materials include mats made of mineral wool, basalt and fibreboard. These materials have excellent acoustic absorption properties.

    Important!

    The main requirement is that their density should not be lower than 50 kg / m3.

    Materials with a lower density simply cannot "confuse" and absorb sounds in their thickness. The overlap must be at least 250 mm. Of these, at least 150 mm must be allocated for the fiber mat layer.

    Roll flooring is another type of soundproofing materials. For example, from felt or cork. They are also very good at absorbing noise. The flooring also includes a heavy mineral-based soundproofing membrane. Despite a fairly thin layer from 2 to 4 mm, all roll flooring has proven itself perfectly on wooden structures.

    Soundproofing rules with soft materials

    Before starting work on soundproofing wooden floors, you need to carefully treat the wood with an antiseptic. Moreover, all wooden elements that are involved in the process are subject to processing. We attach a 30x40 or 40x50 mm rail to the bottom of the vertical side of the beam. We sew up the space between them with a board not thinner than 25 mm. Moreover, we attach it not to the beams, but to the rail.

    Wrapping the beams, we lay and fasten the vapor barrier. We bring its edges to the wall with a bend of at least 100 mm. We fill felt strips on top of the beams. Then carefully fill the entire space between the beams with fiber mats. We lay them tightly together, but do not press down on top. You do not need to stuff strips of felt along the upper ends of the beams. Then the felt flooring must be spread over the beams and insulation with a deflection between the beams.

    Now from below you can hem the ceiling of plasterboard or other finishing material... For example, lining or boards. The base for the ceiling in the lower room has already been prepared. On top of the floor, you also have everything ready for the installation of floors. We sew a 40x150 mm board in 150 mm increments. On top of it, you can spread a layer of thermal insulation. But only if you lay on top of it floorboard or plywood 20 or 25 mm for carpet. If you plan to cover the finished floor with laminate or parquet, then thermal insulation is not needed. The parquet will have its own leveling underlay. Then it is enough just to fill thick plywood on top of the board, as a base for a finished floor.

    Fibrous materials are better at absorbing high frequencies, while flooring is better at absorbing low frequency noise. To achieve perfect sound absorption, you need to combine the phased installation of one and the other.

    Soundproofing with sand

    The principle of this technology lies in the properties of the material. With light shaking, it can be compressed. The sound wave shakes the sand and, turning into mechanical movement, is extinguished. This is the first thing. Secondly, the sand creates a mass in the floor, which does not allow noise to pass through. Thirdly, noise insulation with sand absorbs all frequencies much more efficiently - both high and low.

    The only thing negative property this method is a general weighting of the floor structure. In order for the floor to be reliably operated, the beams must be strong and powerful.

    It is necessary to sew slats on the beams at the bottom, as in the previous version. Then sew up the space with a board or thick plywood and sheathe it with a vapor barrier. The sand bins are now ready.

    Advice!

    For better bonding of the floor, you can lay transverse joists, making cutouts in them for the beams. Lags lying across form boxes together with beams. They are much smaller than in the first case. And it will be easier to cover them with sand.

    Thus, you did not make a subfloor, but a base for backfill. But these boards or plywood are capable of not only pulling off the floor frame. They can be walked on and backfilled on. Sand also has the ability to accumulate heat. Such material in the ceilings will be both noise protection and good thermal insulation.

    It is not necessary to fill up the sand completely, but leave from 30 to 50 mm of free space for ventilation. Then you need to stuff the felt on the frame logs and you can lay thick plywood. It will be the basis for the finished floor.

    Soundproofing the floor with sand

    Rough or floating floor?

    Sound insulation can also be improved by using a rough or floating floor. But only to improve, not replace. The subfloor is the same plywood on top of transverse boards along beams or logs. On top of the plywood covering the boards, the felt is laid with a continuous flooring, and then the main floor.

    A floating floor is an additional sound insulation, it is also a plywood layer. Only in this case, the plywood is not attached with anything, but simply lies on felt strips or solid textile flooring. Plywood sheets are connected only to each other through the lower backing strip. This method eliminates the contact between the floor and the beams. In a similar way, coverings are laid in attics and attics.

    Idea!

    Another way to improve sound protection is to increase the thickness of the overlap.

    On the insulated and noise-insulated ceiling, sew a strip along the outline of the beams. Insert fiberboard into the gaps. Hem with a vapor barrier and again lay drywall, which will be for the front finish. With this technology, the Rw index will be at least 54, and the Lnw index will be no higher than 66.

    .

    Ksenia Skvortsova. Chief Editor... Author.
    Planning and distribution of responsibilities in the content production team, working with texts.
    Education: Kharkov State Academy of Culture, specialty “Culturologist. Teacher of History and Theory of Culture ”. Experience in copywriting: From 2010 to the present. Editor: since 2016.

    Optimal parameters of floor stiffness in modern construction are achieved through the installation of I-beam structures that have transverse section in the form of the letter H. The metal I-beam has long been known to domestic builders, but the I-beam wooden beam still raises certain concerns. What are the advantages of using this building material, are there any nuances for its installation and is it possible to make such a critical structural element with your own hands?

    Universal building material - glued-wood I-beam

    Key features of wooden I-beams

    The main weight load during the operation of a structure of any type falls on the interfloor, basement and attic floors. Their load-bearing elements must be guaranteed to withstand constant and variable loads, including their own weight, as well as the weight of people and furniture.

    At first glance, prefabricated wooden structures cannot compete with reinforced concrete or metal in terms of strength, but practice and calculation prove the opposite.

    Production of an I-beam from wood

    I-section wooden beams it is the result of a combination of three elements - two shelves, usually made of timber, and an oriented strand board. Often, the material for the shelves is a pine board or LVL timber (lumber glued from several layers of coniferous veneer, which differs from plywood and solid wood in its high resistance to horizontal loads).

    To improve the working qualities of wood and prevent rotting, the manufacturer dries it in several stages, and to protect it from insects and increase fire safety, treats the product with an antiseptic and fire retardant.

    The parts of the I-beam are connected to each other with a double spike on special presses using waterproof glue. This production technology makes it possible:

    • to obtain a higher bending strength of the product (in comparison with massive rectangular beams);
    • avoid the disadvantages inherent in wood - shrinkage, shrinkage, the appearance of squeaks, shifts and cracks.

    Production of wooden I-beams

    When ready, the beams can be strengthened with additional overlays - stiffeners. Thus, the bearing capacity of a glued wooden I-beam with equal cross-sectional areas exceeds that of other systems used in low-rise and cottage construction.

    Scope and assortment of I-beams

    Today, timber I-beams are mainly used in the frame construction of houses. In stone buildings, such building material is also used more and more actively, since with its help you can quickly carry out following works:

    • arrangement of all types of floors, as well as truss structure roofs;
    • installation of silent floors, interior partitions;
    • creation of high-quality monolithic formwork for a concrete foundation;
    • all kinds of reconstruction - replacement of floor beams, raising the floor level;
    • erection additional premises- attics, gazebos, terraces, etc.

    Types of lwooden I-beams

    To meet the growing demand, manufacturers have developed a wide enough range, making it easy to select right size and characteristics of beams or racks:

    • BDK - glued I-beam designed for use in short spans;
    • BDKU - a reinforced beam, characterized by an increased flange width and is used on long spans;
    • BDKSH - wide beam, intended for use in extremely loaded structures, rafter systems or on extra-long spans;
    • SDKU - reinforced rack, used as the base of the wall frame;
    • SDKSH - wide rack, used in the installation of wall panels.

    The buyer is informed about the use of LVL timber as a structural material by the letter L in the marking. Also, the geometric dimensions of the section are indicated here, which are important for determining the bearing capacity of a wooden I-beam floor.

    Painted beams for floors and slabs

    How to determine the required dimensions of a glued beam

    Selection of the cross-section "by eye" is unacceptable, since the supporting structures may not withstand the load and deform or collapse. It is better to entrust the calculation of the parameters of a wooden I-beam for overlapping capital structures to an engineer who is able to take into account the operating conditions and features of the work.

    Independent calculations are complicated by the fact that the documents regulating them have many amendments and updated requirements, which are not easy to understand.

    Data provided in open sources may be outdated, and actual information is often closed from free access.

    Interfloor overlap from beams

    It is allowed to count on the knee only the structural parts of the utility rooms of a small area. In simplified calculations, it is important to take into account the standard load, the spacing of the beams and the size of the span to be covered. The approximate values ​​of the floor load are as follows:

    • to overlap an unexploited attic, the constant load is taken within 50 kg / m2, and the operational load is 90 kg / m2, therefore, the total design load is 130 kg / m2 (rounded up to 150 kg / m2);
    • in the case of intensive use of the attic space, the operational load should be increased to 195 kg / m2, which means that its total indicator will be equal to 245 kg / m2 (to increase the safety factor, it increases to 250);
    • when using the attic space as an attic, the weight of floors, partitions, furniture is additionally taken into account and, as a result, the total design load should be at least 300 kg / m2;
    • the interfloor wooden floor also includes its own floor structure, and its operational load consists of the weight of people and household items, therefore its value cannot be less than 400 kg / m2.

    Knowing the required length of the beam and the load acting on it, the tables can be used to determine the required section size.

    Selection table for the cross-section of an I-beam for an interfloor overlap of a residential building with a step of 500 mm

    Selection table for the section of an I-beam for the attic floor of a residential building with a step of 500 mm

    Pros and cons of using OSB H-beams

    What benefits can be obtained by replacing conventional beams with wooden I-beams in a construction project? Due to the low weight of the structures (a 6-meter beam weighs about 6 kg), the significant facilitation of transportation and installation comes to the fore. As a result, the lead time is shortened and costs are reduced. The installation of such building materials does not require the use of heavy special equipment, and the installation is carried out with standard carpentry tools.

    The advantages of using H-beams also include:

    • high strength characteristics allowing to cover long spans (up to 8–12 m) without the use of intermediate supports;
    • variety of standard sizes, stability of shapes and geometrical parameters;
    • lack of shortcomings inherent natural wood;
    • saving living space by laying hidden communications in I-beams niches;
    • minimizing the risk of cold bridges - wood has low thermal conductivity and heat capacity.

    Comparative table of different floor systems

    Overlaps made of boards, of course, outperform I-beams in price, however, the need to create frequent lathing, supporting elements, as well as periodic repairs complicate their operation and, as a result, can reduce the resulting savings to zero.

    In addition to the high cost of wooden I-beams, another drawback emerges from real experience - the risk of acquiring counterfeit unreliable products manufactured in artisanal conditions.

    Making a beam at home

    To exclude the possibility of buying poor-quality building materials, it is recommended to buy beams from manufacturers or intermediaries with a good reputation, or try to make them yourself. Unlike metal products, do-it-yourself wooden I-beams can be made with proper quality if you first familiarize yourself with the technology and a number of nuances of industrial production.

    Diagram and dimensions of beams

    Selection and preparation of material

    For the manufacture of supporting beam elements, it is better to choose glued laminated timber - its correct geometry contributes to obtaining a high-quality workpiece.

    It is optimal if it is made of larch, since it does not lose moisture during operation, but on the contrary, gains strength, but you can use a bar made of any coniferous species. Its section is determined by calculation, but in any case it should not be less than 30x25 mm.

    The material for the racks, quite acceptable in terms of cost and characteristics, is multilayer plywood (for lightly loaded beams) or OSB sheet (for the construction of massive structures). The thickness of the plywood or oriented strand board is 24–27 mm and can be reinforced with additional stiffeners if required.

    Ready-made I-beam made of wood

    To join the workpieces, you need to select wood glue for water based(for residential premises, it must be non-toxic, as evidenced by the ECO label). The highest static and dynamic strength of the joint is provided by the polyurethane and casein composition. Before processing, materials should be discarded, sanded and dried.

    Often, manufacturing takes place right at the construction site.

    Parts manufacturing and assembly

    To make an I-beam from wood, you will need the following tools:

    • roulette;
    • milling machine(option - circular, electric or chainsaw);
    • milling discs of the required thickness, preferably with a trapezoidal profile;
    • Hydraulic Press(or channel with clamps).

    The most important technological stage is marking - the durability and strength of the product depends on its accuracy.

    Even the slightest misalignment should not be allowed, therefore, the selection of the fastening groove should be carried out strictly along the center line drawn during the marking. The depth and width of the groove depends on the dimensions of the timber and OSB and is approximately 10% of the width of the rack.

    Beam assembly diagram

    1. Smear the contact surfaces with an even thin layer.
    2. Attach the lower and upper timber to the wall blank.
    3. Align and press the parts together.

    In order to avoid skewing of the beam during drying, gluing is best carried out on a pneumatic or hydraulic clamp, which can also be replaced. homemade device- analogue of the clamp. To do this, you need to choose a channel according to the size of the strip, bend the metal sheet into the desired shape. After that, it is necessary to carefully apply metal parts on both sides to the assembled I-beam and fix it with clamps. The holding time of the beam depends on the type of adhesive.

    Video: How to make an I-beam out of wood


    What you need to know about installing beams

    The wooden I-beam is ready for installation after coating with a fire retardant and antiseptic composition and completely dry. Builders who equip simple floors do not need to have special skills, which cannot be said about building a house from wooden I-beams.

    To guarantee safety and reliability, it is better to order a frame construction for year-round use from a specialized developer company.

    The nuances of laying floor beams

    1. To insert a beam into a brick or stone wall, even at the stage of its laying, special niches should be provided - nests.
    2. If the walls are made of timber or logs, these holes are cut out in them.
    3. Regardless of the wall material, the bottom of the nests must be covered with a double layer of roofing material, and the edges of the beams (this only applies to the case when they are mounted in brick or stone) should be treated with any water-repellent compound, for example, bitumen.
    4. The length of the supporting end of the beam must be at least 150 mm.
    5. It is better to start the installation from the edge of one of the walls, then proceed to the installation of intermediate beams.
    6. The installation step is verified with a template, and in order to check the horizontal position of the installation, it is necessary to use a spirit level.
    7. To achieve a horizontal surface, it may be necessary to place wooden blocks under the support ends.
    8. It is recommended to secure every third beam with anchors or wooden struts.
    9. The remaining free cavities in the nests can be filled with a vapor-permeable insulation, for example, mineral wool, or filled with construction cement mortar.
    10. After the beams are securely fixed, they need to be sheathed with clapboard, board or drywall.

    Floor beams in brick wall

    List of basic steps for building a frame house

    The technology by which they are built frame houses from plywood and OSB, called Canadian. Previously, timber and planks were used as load-bearing elements, but now they are increasingly being replaced by I-beams. A Canadian cottage does not need a massive base, so it is usually replaced with a light one strip foundation.

    Rafter system from I-beams

    The general sequence for assembling the frame looks like this:

    1. Installation of wooden trim on the foundation.
    2. Installation of a basement floor made of I-beams.
    3. Fastening of ordinary panels and door block directly on beam floor.
    4. Tying the panels together with FSF plywood strips 27 mm thick.
    5. Installation of interfloor overlap on top of plywood trim.
    6. Construction of the second floor from wall panels and their piping.
    7. Installation of attic floor, gables, ridge and rafters.
    8. Warming and conducting finishing works- frame sheathing, roof and facade installation.

    The resulting housing is lightweight and durable, and its construction is cheaper than brick building the same area. However, there are also critical drawbacks: very high requirements must be imposed on the quality of materials, which so far only correspond to high-cost products from world manufacturers - Nascor or Steiko. Cheap counterparts are unreliable and often pose a threat to human health.

    Scheme of the structure of a frame house

    Sheathed frame from the inside

    A house made of wooden I-beams is very vulnerable to vandal resistance - wooden walls easily destroyed by a chainsaw, and it is important for the owners of the building to provide a protection system for the adjacent area.

    However, manufacturers, striving to expand the market, are constantly developing technologies, therefore, most likely, frame houses will get rid of these shortcomings in the near future.