17 Trumbull - 3rd FJ! RYAN S. HELLWIG, PE ! STRUCTURAL ENGINEER !
June 15, 2011
Chuck Miller
Assistant Building Commissioner
212 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
cmiller@northamptonma.gov
Re:Michele St. Pierre
17 Trumbull Road
Northampton, MA
Subject:3 Floor Joistsrd
Chuck,
The following is a summary report of my evaluation of the above-mentioned issue.
The existing floor joists are full-dimension 2x6 spaced at 16" on center. The width of the room
is approximately 18'-3" inside, but there is a bearing wall located about 5 feet from the east side.
Unfortunately, this wall is discontinuous for about 9 feet in the 1 floor apartment. It is notst
known whether there is an existing header under the 2 floor joists over this 9' section, since thend
ceiling is plastered and the apartment is occupied.
The existing joists were sistered with 9-½" LVL’s ripped in half and screwed to the existing.
This reinforcement is adequate for a 40 psf live load, but only if the interior bearing wall can be
relied upon for support.
For the 9' section of discontinuous wall, rather than open up the 1 floor ceiling for inspectionst
and possible reinforcement, a second set of LVL sisters will be added. In order to span clear
across the 18'-3", these newer LVL’s will have to be at least 1-¾" x 8-½".
The exterior stud walls appear to be balloon-framed. It is not clear at this point if the existing
ledger strip is let into or nailed onto the existing studs. Therefore the ledger strip will be exposed
in the room below and reinforced as necessary.
Respectfully,
Ryan S. Hellwig, PE
Massachusetts Professional Engineer #37300 - STRUCTURAL
! 28 ALDRICH STREET ! NORTHAMPTON, MA 01060 !
! Voice = 413-584-HLWG (4594) ! Fax = 413-584-HLWFax (4593) ! Email = rshpe@crocker.com !