20x32 in Alaska

Started by Backcountry Joe, February 12, 2017, 01:02:27 PM

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Backcountry Joe

Hello all,

Well we bought the land and the plans and are ready to rock and roll as soon as breakup comes. We're building about 100 miles south of Fairbanks in Denali borough so building code. We'd really like to stay as close to the design as possible but there are a few things that are real expensive this north so I have some questions about substitutes. I need to go down about 6 feet to get past the frost line so I was looking at using railroad ties for my foundation posts. Does anyone have any experience with this or a reason not too?

Also, can I use 2x12 20ft for the floor in place of the I beams?

ChugiakTinkerer

I think most folks would just go ahead and put in a concrete pier using a sonotube.  If this will be your full time residence you might consider how much time and effort you will be investing, and perhaps it is worth spending a little more on a foundation that is known to last.  For a shed or weekend cabin it may be worth the small savings to use ties.  I recall seeing on the web somewhere some pole barns built using railroad tie piers, perhaps it was on the TractorByNet forum.

2x12 joists could possibly span the 20' floor in place of I-joists.  It would depend on the species and grade of wood for just how long it can span.  The international code for wood floors is here: http://codes.iccsafe.org/app/book/content/2015-I-Codes/2015%20IRC%20HTML/Chapter%205.html
It shows the allowable span table.  You want to scroll down to the one for living areas, and select the appropriate dead weight column.  If you have dead weight of 10 lbs per square foot and put your joists on a 12" spacing then you can span up to 20'-11" with a 2x12 Doug-Fir graded at #2 or better.  If your lumber yard sells southern pine, a 2x12 graded at #2 will only span 19'-1".  But putting joists at 12" spacing means you will need 33 joists to cover the 32'.  While it might be a little less expensive buying the 2x12, it will make your work a heck of a lot harder if you are running any plumbing or electrical lines through the joists.  Insulation in the floor could be a little more challenging too.

I-joists can span the floor on a 16" spacing.  There are different sizes and strengths, but take a look at the Boise-Cascade BCI 6000 in a 11-7/8" size.  With 16" spacing it can span up to 21-6".  At 16" spacing it would take 25 I-joists to cover the 32'.  If your prices are comparable to the Spenard Builders Supply online store, the I-joist has a minimum length of 24' and costs $55.99.  For 25 joists the total is $1399.75.  SBS sells the 2x12 DougFir @ 20' for $37.99 so the cost for that is $1253.67.  That is a difference of $146.08 which may or may not be worth the savings.  I have never built with I-joists so I don't know what's involved in their installation, whether they are easier or quicker to build the floor compared to sawn lumber.  If your plans include any utilities in the floor then you may need the extra 4" just to make installation possible.

You could probably get by with 2x12 on a 16" spacing if you can get Select graded lumber.  Such a board in DougFir, HemFir, or SprucePineFir would have the strength to span 19-6".  You would need to avoid southern pine.  If you can source Select 2x12 at 20' at price equal or less than the I-joist it would be a no-brainer.  Alternatively, you could go with a different floor design that does not have joists free-spanning the entire 20'.  You could place a few piers in the interior to support a beam that runs the length of the floor.  With a long center beam each joist would only have a free span of under 10'.  With that span you could go with 2x8 on 24" spacing and have just as rigid a floor.  In such a scenario, the costs for floor joists would be 17 of 2x8 @ 20', which with a price of $23.99 each totals $407.83.  That $800 to $1,000 savings doesn't come free though, as you would need piers and a beam to support that floor.

Edit to add: Bear in mind the span tables are based on the allowable deflection ratio of L/360.  This is usually fine for most flooring.  If you might have tile flooring in part of the building, you will want a stiffer floor, and it would also add to the dead weight of the floor.  I would have to look it up, but I think the standard for tile is L/480, or perhaps L/720.  In this case the L is a length of 20' and the allowable deflecton for L/480 is 1/2 inch.  If your floor has too much bounce or flex, then ceramic or stone tiles will crack.  So if you want tile flooring you'd have to throw out all my estimates above and go with something more conservative.
My cabin build thread: Alaskan remote 16x28 1.5 story


Backcountry Joe

Thanks for the info Sir.

I've built remote cabins in the past but this is the first run at a full time place. I'll look at the price of concrete but it isn't a common material used around here so I figured there was a reason.

Joe

ChugiakTinkerer

Lots of things to worry about, I know.  You might consider going to a narrower floor plan.  A 16' width gives you a lot more flexibility.  If you have good soils then perma-frost shouldn't be too much of a concern.  A foundation that rests on top of the ground is used where there is potential for thawing of permafrost.  That's what I'm looking at for my remote build.  An excellent example of a railroad tie cribbing foundation is here: http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/showthread.php/144384-Logs-have-arrived!?p=1547095&viewfull=1#post1547095
My cabin build thread: Alaskan remote 16x28 1.5 story

Backcountry Joe

I looked at several examples of that style and talked to a lot of folks around here. Where I'm at the frost line is 4 foot with snow and about 7 foot without. Some of the man camps around use a pad and pier foundation but I just can't wrap my head around that for long term.


ChugiakTinkerer

If permafrost is not a concern, a frost-protected shallow foundation might be an option. 

http://www.cchrc.org/sites/default/files/docs/Draft_Final_Report_FPSF_CCHRC-6-15-08.pdf
My cabin build thread: Alaskan remote 16x28 1.5 story

Backcountry Joe

Thanks, I'll take a look at that.

If I were going to do a pad and pier foundation what size would the pads need to be? I was thing 24"x24" 6" deep but really have no idea.

ChugiakTinkerer

It all comes down to what the design load of the house is and what the load-bearing strength of the soil is.  A useful way of determining the load is to add up the design loads for all floors plus the roof.  Living spaces are typically built to withstand a live load of 40 pounds per square foot (psf).  The weight of the floor construction itself is what is called a dead load.  If you know what that weight is you should use it, but the minimum to use is 10 psf.  Combine those and you are looking at a total load for the ground floor of 50 psf spread over 640 sf, totaling 32,000 lbs.  You do a similar calculation for the roof.  The ground snow load for your area ( see http://snowload.atcouncil.org/ ) might be as high as 80 psf.  Add in 10 psf for the dead load of the roof.  Allowing for 24" overhang of the eaves and 12" overhang of the gable your roof has an area of 28x34.  Putting up to 90 psf on an area of 952 sf gives a total roof load of 85,680 lbs.  Add the roof load to the floor load and you are looking at a total of 117,680 lbs.  If this is a two-story house, add another 32,000 lbs for the design load of the second floor.

Unless you are in a bog, your soils should be able to support at least 1,500 psf ( see https://www.nachi.org/structural-design-foundations-home-inspector.htm ).  Using 1500 for a worst case estimate, the pads and footings must have a big enough area to support the house.  A load of 117,680 lbs on soils of 1500 psf strength means you need a foundation area of 78.5 square feet.  If you are on gravel or sandy gravel, the presumed load bearing strength is 3,000 lbs per square foot, so then you would only need 39.3 sf of foundation support.  Knowing the area you need and deciding on how many posts you want to support the beams will guide you on how big the pads need to be.  You can make up for smaller pad area by having more of them.

If you haven't seen it before, have a look at http://www.cchrc.org/sites/default/files/docs/DesignManualforNewFoundationsonPermafrost.pdf for recommendations on foundations in permafrost areas.  The post and pad foundation starts at page 73.  One important thing to notice is that the organic material is removed and replaced with non frost susceptible (NFS) material such as sand & gravel.  Filling in with gravel and compacting it gives you a larger load bearing surface.  The load from the pad is distributed down and out at 45 degrees, sort of like a pyramid.  If the gravel is 6" deep, it extends the load bearing area outward by 6".  If the gravel is 8" thick it extends the load area out by 8", etc.  For a 24"x24" pad, if it is on a 6" thick gravel base of 36"x36" then the pad has a load bearing area of 9 square feet.


My cabin build thread: Alaskan remote 16x28 1.5 story

Backcountry Joe

Just so I'm tracking, a 24"x24" pad, if it is on a 6" thick gravel base of 36"x36" then the pad has a load bearing area of 9 square feet and if I needed a foundation area of 78.5 square feet, I would divide 78.5 by 9 which would tell me I need at least 8.72 pads to support the load? 


ChugiakTinkerer

Yes indeed, you are correct.  To look at it another way, if you spaced posts every 8 feet, there would be 5 posts along each 32' wall.  With 10 posts, each pad would only need to have a load bearing area of 7.8 square feet.  That is a square 33.5" on a side, or a circle 38" in diameter.

Pad and post foundation is a great way to cope with the gravity load stresses when the ground is expected to move, either from frost heaving or permafrost thawing.  It is quick to build, relatively inexpensive, but it terrible in resisting lateral forces or uplift.  For a remote cabin the cost of foundation failure isn't really a big deal in terms of financial cost.  If you are investing a huge amount of your time and money into building a full-time residence, you really owe it to yourself and your loved ones to build something that can withstand an earthquake or fierce wind storm.  You are way more likely to get that with some form of continuous perimeter foundation, either concrete, concrete blocks, or permanent wood.  I would only go to piers or pads if ground conditions made all the other options impractical.
My cabin build thread: Alaskan remote 16x28 1.5 story

Backcountry Joe

Well it's been a bit. We have moved out to our property and just waiting for the ground to thaw so we can start building. Have a few questions reguarding Sono Tubes. How deep do they need to be? can I use a Sono Tube set on gravel in a shallow hole? Can I get away with using 8IN tubes every 8ft?

ChugiakTinkerer

You want to build a permanent full-time structure on land that is probably within a few miles of the Denali fault?  I'd be looking at a bigger and badder foundation than what is the absolute minimum for a deck.  Really, the more I think about building where you are located I think a continuous perimeter foundation gives much better support.  There's a reason why they are in code and pier foundations aren't.

Do a search here on CountryPlans to see what I'm referring to.
My cabin build thread: Alaskan remote 16x28 1.5 story

Backcountry Joe

So I got my posts in the ground this week. I came across a deal on 8x8s so I went that route. My next question is on girders. I know that most folks recommend 3 2x12s but I just wanted to see what my other options were. I'm 20 feet wide, my posts are 8 feet apart and the house will be a full story and a half with a 12/12 roof. I have three rows of post so outside, outside, center so I can use 2x8s on 24" for my floor joists. Can I get by with 2 2x12s? Or 2x10s?

The only reason I ask is I have to pack the lumber in my hand.

ChugiakTinkerer

Assuming you have no structural ridge, your outside girders are supporting a roof (and ceiling), a clear-span loft floor, and a center-bearing main floor.  Take a look at Table R602.7(1) in the International Residential Code.  The table gives girder options for different floor configurations and different snow loads.  The safest bet is to use the bottom section, for two clear-span floors.  If you have a 50 lbs per square foot snow load, and have a span of 7'-4" then your option is four 2x12.  If you are supporting the half-story floor with posts or a bearing wall, then you can use the section above, for roof, ceiling, and two center-bearing floors.  In that case you can go down to three 2x12, because they will span up to 8'-2".

If your ground snow load is much greater, you should move over to the 70 psf column.  If it is much lower, you may be able to move over to the 30 psf column.  All depends on how much snow your area gets.

The simple fact is that 8' is a big span for a girder supporting a 1.5 story structure with a snow load.  I'm thinking you are close to the razor's edge with three 2x12.  You ought to consider moving up to four, not dropping down to two.
My cabin build thread: Alaskan remote 16x28 1.5 story


Backcountry Joe

Well building is going strong. I'm headed to Fairbanks on Friday to get the materials for the roof. I've gone back and forth about site built trusses or a ridge and rafter roof. If I did a ridge and rafter roof what size of lumber should I use? I believe the plans show 2x10 but this seems rather large to me and if I built trusses it calls for 2x6.

Don_P

Rafter size depends on snow load(pounds per square foot)+ the dead load of the materials of the roof, span, species and grade.

If a ridgeboard and rafter roof you need a ceiling joist tying the rafter bottoms together to prevent them from spreading apart horizontally under load. A ridgebeam roof doesn't need ceiling joists (rafter ties is the term) because the rafters are hanging from a strong, stiff, properly sized beam at the ridge, usually a far sized LVL or glulam beam. A truss is designed with the needed horizontal thrust restraint.

Sometimes you want a deeper rafter because you need the room for insulation and venting.

ChugiakTinkerer

If you are using metal roof, or even asphalt 3-tab shingles your roof dead load will be at or below 10 lbs per square foot.  The live load will depend on your ground snow load and the roof design.  If you are building a traditional rafter and ridge board roof, with separate ceiling joists, you'd want to look at the IRC table R802.5.1(7) if you have a ground snow load of 50 psf.  At 24" spacing, a 2x8 of HemFir #2 (typical at Alaska lumber yards) can span up to 8'-7" whereas a 2x10 can span up to 10'-6".  Assuming your ground snow load is in the ballpark of 50 lbs per foot then a 2x10 is what you need.  If you are planning on a heavy roofing material then you'd want to look at the right side of the table under 20 psf dead load.  In that case a 2x10 can span 9-11", which is sufficient for your design.

The problem with such a roof is that your ceiling joists will also have to be long enough to span the 20' wide house and stiff enough not to sag.  That means a 2x10 in HemFir #2, or maybe a 2x8 in DougFir #2 (see IRC table R802.4(1) for details).  Trusses can make it work with much less bulky material.  I'd suggest going with factory-built trusses over site-built.  The savings in time will be immense.  With snow not too far away, you might need that time to dry it in.  Definitely get a quote and weigh it against what it will realistically take you to frame up seventeen trusses.

Note that if you have an interior wall supporting the ceiling joists then you are looking at a much lesser span.

EDIT: I looked back and saw in your reply #12 that you are building a 1.5 story.  I assume that means you have no ceiling joists and will be putting your ceiling on the underside of the rafters.  In that case you'd need to use IRC Table R802.5.1(6) for proper sizing of rafters.  How high is your knee wall?  If it's too high then the outward thrust of rafters could create excessive torque.  In that case scissor trusses are probably your best option.
My cabin build thread: Alaskan remote 16x28 1.5 story

Backcountry Joe

Thanks for the input all. I went with 2x10's. I am having issues with figuring out the birds mouth. Does anyone have an easy way to do this? The roof is a 12/12 by 20ft wide. I braced the ridge at 9 feet off the top of the wall.

akwoodchuck

Quote from: Backcountry Joe on August 28, 2017, 10:09:37 AM
Thanks for the input all. I went with 2x10's. I am having issues with figuring out the birds mouth. Does anyone have an easy way to do this? The roof is a 12/12 by 20ft wide. I braced the ridge at 9 feet off the top of the wall.

I usually lay everything out full size on the floor with some chalk lines....pretty foolproof and makes it real handy if you need to go back and double check something....
"The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne."



Backcountry Joe

Thanks all! I ended up talking with the base carpenter and he created a jig for me.  Next on my hit list is stair stringers......