free span ideas

[Dan Redd]

I have an old mansion that I am opening up the interior to create a theater. my problem is that the span I want to achieve is 43 ft. the floor joists of the upstairs are 2x12 16 in oc. and the ceiling height is 12 ft. any ideas on the beam size I would need to free span that length? the floorjoist are all running the shorter distance of 34 ft. I was thinking of a beam in the center running parallel to the floor joists to help support the longer beams but just not sure. my wife is dead set on no posts in the room except at the end to support the beams. thank you on advance.

[Ablesupe]

My idea is You need a structural engineer

[Sheldon Silvers]

Sir, with due respect I want to say, please meet a building structure analyzer ( Civil Engineer ).
Best of luck.

[Dutchman]

Sir, with due respect I want to say, please meet a building structure analyzer ( Civil Engineer ).
Best of luck.

Uh, Structural Engineer, not a Civil.

[dgbldr]

Uh, Structural Engineer, not a Civil.

Sheldon is correct.

Structural engineering is actually a specialty within the field of civil engineering and, structural engineering is often offered as a concentration in a civil engineering degree program.

https://typesofengineeringdegrees.or...l-engineering/

[Dutchman]

Good for Sheldon, I use a structural when it comes to buildings and a civil when it comes to things dealing with drainage, earth, etc.. Everyone can do whatever they want.

[Allan Edwards]

I use a structural when it comes to buildings and a civil when it comes to things dealing with drainage, earth, etc.

Me too. Every house I build we have a structural engineer design the foundation and structure and we have a civil engineer design a drainage plan with detention and release as required. Two totally separate designs.

[dgbldr]

If you guys ask your "structural engineeer" I think you may find out his/her degree is in Civil Engineering. Very few of them have degrees in Mechanical Engineering. And I've never met anyone with a Structural Engineering degree, I don't know if such degree is offered by any university.