Expert: Bruce E. Johnson - 6/17/2009

Question
Hi, my wife and I are having a screened room and new deck built on the back of our house and the plans currently call for exterior LVL's to support the load, due to some design specific cantilever sections. These projected price for these beams is quite high (many thousands of dollars). project is in Massachusetts and beams will be exposed to weather. Do you know of any alternatives such as wrapping interior LVL's with flashing and Azek or steel I-beams? Thanks in advance.

Answer
Hi Eric, have you considered girder trusses?  A girder truss is an engineered box truss which can then be wrapped with wood or some other exterior siding.  I don't see how steel I beams will be much cheaper because they will require galvanization,  and without some research can't comment on the Azek beams, I haven't used them.  Maybe a conventional 6x12 or 6x16 lumber beam?  I don't know what your spans are.  Maybe you are being unrealistic with you spans and that is why an LVL is required.  By adding another post to decrase span distance may allow you to go to alternative less costly material.  I hope this info helps feel free to write again regarding this or other matters, sincerely bruce e johnson