Lumber question

pcdreams · #1 07/13/10, 10:06 AM

wondering where ya'll can find lumber longer than 16'? Saw mill?

Specifically I'm looking for some 6x6 for frame/base for a cabin. it'll sit on 12" piers. I know you can splice floor joist but... I'm not sure if that's a good idea since its the base.

I'm also thinking I'll likely do 16' instead of 14' wide less waste that way since you can get 10,12,16 here. wonder if I'd need to add additional piers though

here is the cabin I'm lookin at building

Windy in Kansas · #2 07/13/10, 10:12 AM

Lowes carries some 20 foot lumber as does Sutherlands--the last time I checked. Sutherlands would be the better choice for 6X6 if they are in your area, especially with their friends and family plan which gives a discount or rebate.

In addition, most lumber yards will order in whatever you need but you don't have much choice in viewing and selecting before purchase.

Ramblin Wreck · #3 07/13/10, 10:14 AM

I bet you have a sawmiller close by, maybe even one of the band saw mills that can come right to you if you have the trees. If you have some oak (and take the time to predrill and use screws) available, it would make a great foundation. The band saw mills can cut very precisely if the miller keeps a sharp blade on the machine.

I'm lucky in that my brother lives near by and has a WoodMizer mill. He sells beam lumber a lot.

Good luck.

pcdreams · #4 07/13/10, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windy in Kansas

Sutherlands would be the better choice for 6X6

In addition, most lumber yards will order in whatever you need but you don't have much choice in viewing and selecting before purchase.

I'll check suthernlands. Hadn't thought of them...we only have one here and I haven't been there in years..

Thanks everyone

**Cabin Fever** · #5 07/13/10, 10:28 AM

I don't understand why you need lumber greater than 16 feet for a 16' wide cabin?

Our cabin is 16' x 24' on piers of various heights. The floor joists are 2" x 12" x 16'. The floor joists are connected to double 2x12 rim joists with galvanized hangers. The rim joists are notched into the tops of the 6x6 piers.

Lumber question - Homesteading Questions

Lumber question - Homesteading Questions

Jolly · #6 07/13/10, 10:39 AM

Sawmill.

Most of the guys who are in the biz have bandsaw mills that will cut 20' stuff. I have seen stuff as long as 28', though.

pcdreams · #7 07/13/10, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cabin Fever

I don't understand why you need lumber greater than 16 feet for a 16' wide cabin?

its for the length (20')

I was saying I thought I'd make the width 16' rather than the 14' the plan shows.

BTW I love your cabin. If I'm remembering correctly you have the hanging aladdin lamp

still dreaming of one of those

**Cabin Fever** · #8 07/13/10, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pcdreams

its for the length (20')

I was saying I thought I'd make the width 16' rather than the 14' the plan shows.

BTW I love your cabin. If I'm remembering correctly you have the hanging aladdin lamp

still dreaming of one of those

Okay, I get it. You are planning on setting the floor joists on top of the 20 ft long, 6x6 support beams. I assume you are using the beams because you believe that you may have to do some re-leveling in the future due to possible settling of your 12" piers.

big rockpile · #9 07/13/10, 12:10 PM

Around here it would be very hard to find.I'm thinking the Beams will be hard to find and Hard to handle why not Spend extra and just get Steel I Beams?

big rockpile

FyredUp · #10 07/13/10, 04:05 PM

There is a lumber yard in the next county over from me that has as a specialty supplies for building pole barns. When I built mine I bought 24 foot 6 x 6's green treated posts from them.

So if you don't have that kind of lumberyard maybe look for an outfit that builds pole barns and see if they will get some for you.

Good luck.

PD-Riverman · #11 07/13/10, 06:04 PM

If you can not find what you need, If you will pick out some straight yellow pine 2x6's(if you want 6x6's) and glue and nail 4 layers thick, staggering the joints you can make some really Solid Beam. I like to make sure the joints sit over a piller. To make a 20ft, I would set pillers 5ft apart and start with a 15ft and a 5ft laying flat, then on top of that I would use 2- 10ft pieces, then another 15ft and 5ft in reverse from the first, then finish off with a 15ft and 5ft like the first layer. When you get it all nailed and glues turn the beam up and you will have a solid beam.

wy_white_wolf · #12 07/13/10, 10:46 PM

I had no problem getting 20' 2x material at Home Depot. Might consider just getting 3 - 20' 2x6's and build your own beams. I'll bet with using them to counter the flaws in each other you could get straighter and stronger beams that way.

FyredUp · #13 07/13/10, 11:27 PM

He would actually need 4 - 2 x 6's to equal a 6 x 6.

2 x 6's are actually roughly 1 1/2 x 5 1/2, or less.

silverbackMP · #14 07/13/10, 11:59 PM

possible course of action: laminate using titebond II wood glue and a bunch of clamps. Your gonna have to be careful selecting your boards for crown. Disadvantage-even with good board selection, the boards will not line up completely even.

possible course fo action: check into laminated beams already made. A good lumber yard (not lowes/homedept) should be able to get you these.

**clovis** · #15 07/14/10, 12:20 AM

If you need 20 footers, get out your wallet.

I had a VERY hard time finding 20 footers, in 2 x 16, treated, in stock at a lumber yard. Untreated was still scarce.

It would behoove you, when on the phone with the lumber company, to utter the words "Do you actually have them in stock? How many do you have?" Ask me how I know this...

I eventually found them at the largest independent lumber company in Indianapolis, but only after visiting 5 yards that said over the phone "Yeah, we stock 'em." I learned quickly that the word "yeah" in the lumber yard business is a secret code for "drive on up to our store, and I'll act like I wasn't the guy that took your phone call, but lied to you anyway."

Strong suggestion: Find a local saw mill guy that will treat you fair, and buy from him.

Oh, BTW, how are you going to transport the 20 footers??? Ask me about that one too...

silverbackMP · #16 07/14/10, 01:09 AM

If were me, I was aftaid of the piers shifting, I would use those newfangle forms that have a bulbious bottom and basically form a footer--assuming your talking concrete piers. And then I would use 2x material.

My parent's 2000 SF house sits on pressure treated posts/piers (the good ol CCA that we mortals can no longer get) and they have had very little issues with shifting in the past 10 years since it has been built (northern MO, extreme clay, house is skirted to keep rain away from the posts).