Q. I'm getting ready to build a large room addition that needs a beam to support the floor joists. I've been told that a wood beam will work, but I've always seen steel I-beams in other houses.

In rare cases, the engineer or architect called for a metal flitch plate that was bolted to the inside of the wood header. The steel added an extreme amount of strength to the beam. Closed-cell ...

The wood beam and exposed timber trend in homes ranges from mantels and repurposed barn doors, to open beam ceilings and exposed headers. A second-generation builder with over 10 years of ...

Whether remodeling, adding on or building "from scratch," building strong, stable walls is a priority of any construction project. Then, opening after opening is cut into these walls to ...

Traditional wood joists are usually 2×8 ... runs continuously from the bottom sole plate to the top plate. Headers are little ...

An engineered-wood product manufactured from multiple thin layers of veneer that are aligned with the length of the finished lumber. It is often used for headers, beams, and rim board. A large-scale ...

Q: My house plan calls for steel beams that will support the floor joists and even parts of a brick wall. Can I substitute wood beams for steel? Is a steel I-beam hard to handle on the job site?

Ideally suited for transforming ordinary houses, stores and restaurants into extraordinary, charming country style homes, shops and inns, Outwater’s hollowed Faux Wood Beams are not only ...

DEAR TIM: I’m getting ready to build a large room addition that needs a beam to support the floor joists. I’ve been told that a wood beam will work, but I’ve always seen steel I-beams in ...