I want to span a 10' space and was going to make the 2 x 12 & plywood style beam. I planned on making the beam 10'10" (130") and supporting it on each end with 5" (2 x 6 and 4 x 6) so that the 120" (10') was open. Should I be concerned with this breaking or sagging after reading about the LAL or other type of composite beam? What would they do in the old days? Or, am I going to be okay..

keep in mind this is my opinion, I think your fine with that span, however if inspected it wouldn't pass code.

here something I do regularly, we build a lot of decks that span 10ft to a beam on almost every deck we do. We use 2x10s, and I've yet to see and saging, keep in mind the only load we have are decking boards and whomever is on the deck at that time,
I don't know the load that is on your beam, that is to me the desiding factor whether this will be OK. If your nervous still about using that beam, just ask a structural engenineer and hell be able to tell you what you can use, most likely he'll have you use a microlamb beam.

Thanks for the heads up... I may go see somebody that would know. I am also putting up an attic truss.

Real good answer GLAVINE! I WAS going to susgest the same .2x12 with 1/2" plywood glued both sides then nailed both sides with 16 penny cement coated nails . And span 10 ft. no problem . But what's above/ ,that's another think about. And how far apart are these beams going to be??

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Originally Posted by Flying Blue Eagle

Real good answer GLAVINE !! I WAS going to susgest the same .2x12 with 1/2" plywood glued both sides then nailed both sides with 16 penny cement coated nails . and span 10 ft. no problem . but whats above/ ,thats another think about. and how far apart are these beams going to be ????

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It is for a 32' x 48' building. I have attic truss's that are spanning the 32 feet wide.
The end door is the 10' span, I don't think it'll be bearing the weight. The other walls, the sides, are going to be holding up the truss's, there will be nothing in between. There are 2 doors on that side 8' and none on the other.

10' opening on the gable end side of a trussed building?

No problem. Build your beam. It's not holding anything up so there's no load on it. Also you only need 2-2x6's under each end of the header. You don't have to overkill it with 5" supporting each side.

A 3-2x12 beam w/ sandwiched plywood w/ 2 jack studs under each end supporting a ceiling and roof can clear span any where from 9"5" to 12"2" depending on building width and psf of snow load.

AOTO, don't worry about the plyeood only being 8 FT. cut a piece 4 ft. long to finish length. It s the only way.:::"