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Beam & Headers
Slate Drafting offers a focused beam and header sizing service for residential projects. We use the International Residential Code (IRC), manufacturer design tools (like ForteWEB/BC Calc), and the AISC Steel Construction Manual to recommend member sizes for openings, decks, and simple girders.
For situations that fall outside prescriptive limits or where a stamped engineered design is required, we coordinate with a licensed Professional Engineer in Virginia through Slate Structural Desk.
This Beam Sizing Service Is For
What is beam and header sizing?
Beam and header sizing is the process of determining the correct structural member needed to safely support loads over openings such as doors, windows, and large spans. Proper sizing ensures that loads are transferred through the structure and down to the foundation without excessive deflection or failure.
Homeowners
Planning to remove a wall, open up a kitchen, or add a large opening and need to know “what size beam do I need?”
Contractors & remodelers
Tired of guessing at LVL sizes or waiting weeks for simple beam calcs on small jobs.
Designers & drafters
Need help sizing beams and headers for your plan sets but don’t want to hire a full-time engineer.
What We Do (and What We Don’t)
What We Do
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Size wood beams and headers (LVL, PSL, etc.) that fall within IRC and manufacturer limits
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Provide simple steel beam recommendations for straightforward residential spans (headers and girders)
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Use:
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IRC span tables
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Manufacturer tools such as ForteWEB / BC Calc
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AISC Steel Construction Manual for simple steel beams
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Deliver a clear, written recommendation plus supporting calcs/printouts
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Integrate the beam sizes into our plan sets if we’re also doing your drawings
What We Don't Do
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We do not act as your structural engineer of record
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We do not provide sealed calculations or full structural engineering services
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We do not design complex steel frames, multi-span systems, or unusual loading scenarios
For projects that require engineered design or a PE’s seal, we’ll tell you up front and route the work through a Virginia-licensed Professional Engineer via Slate Structural Desk.
Step 1 – Send project info
You complete a short intake form with:
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Project address and jurisdiction
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Sketch or plan showing the beam location and span
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What the beam supports (floor only, floor + roof, deck, etc.)
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Photos of existing framing and supports (for remodels)
Step 2 – We review and confirm scope
We review your information and confirm:
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Whether your situation looks prescriptive (wood or simple steel)
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Or if it’s likely to require a PE and stamped design
You’ll get a clear quote before we start.
Step 3 – We size the beam
For prescriptive cases, we:
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Apply appropriate loads and tributary widths
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Use IRC tables, manufacturer tools, and/or AISC methods to check bending, shear, and deflection
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Select a recommended member size (LVL / other wood product, or a steel W-shape)
Step 4 – You receive a simple report
You’ll receive:
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A brief summary of assumptions (span, loads, supports)
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The recommended beam size and any bearing/connection notes
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Supporting manufacturer or calculation printouts
What we can size
Removing load-bearing walls
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Beams over new openings in existing houses
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Long openings for open-concept remodels
LVL/PSL headers and girders
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Over large windows and doors
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Under floor joists in basements or crawlspaces
Deck beams and deck girders
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Single- and multi-span beams within residential deck limits
Simple residential steel beams
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Steel headers where wood gets too deep or too heavy
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Steel girders under floor joists for long spans
When a PE is Required
If your project falls outside prescriptive limits or the building department requires a stamped engineered design:
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We’ll tell you before we start beam sizing
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We can coordinate with a Virginia-licensed Professional Engineer through Slate Structural Desk
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PE fees are quoted separately based on scope