Who's requesting, what project, and what kind of work. If this is remodel work, we need to know what's already there — it changes assumptions across the board.
Your role
Homeowner
Builder / Contractor
Architect / Designer
Engineer
Lumberyard / Dealer
Other
Project type
New construction
Remodel / Renovation
Addition to existing structure
Repair / Structural replacement
Age of existing structure
Pre-1950
1950 – 1979
1980 – 1999
2000 – present
Unknown
Existing roof system
Trussed roof
Stick-framed rafters
Timber / Heavy timber
Not sure
N/A — beam is not roof-related
Existing wall covering
Plaster on lath
Drywall (standard)
Drywall (multiple layers / textured)
Paneling / Wainscot
Exposed / Unfinished
Mixed / Varies
Not sure
Existing framing
Balloon framed
Platform framed
Post & beam / Timber
Not sure
Your name
Company (optional)
Email
Phone (optional)
Project name or address
Your reference / Job number (optional)
Step 2 of 8
Beam location & application.
Where in the structure and what this beam is doing. Drives load path assumptions and Forte / WoodWorks model setup.
Beam location
Floor — main level
Floor — upper level
Floor — over basement / crawl
Roof — ridge beam
Roof — valley beam
Roof — hip beam
Roof — purlin
Header — window or door
Header — garage door
Header — load-bearing wall removal
Deck / Exterior
Other
What is this beam supporting?
Select all that apply.
Floor joists — one side
Floor joists — both sides
Roof rafters / Trusses
Load-bearing wall above
Point load from beam above
Point load from post above
Roof only — no floor
Headers below carrying concentrated loads
Deck / Balcony
Non-bearing — ceiling only
Other
Number of stories supported above this beam
Roof only
1 floor + roof
2 floors + roof
3+ floors + roof
Not sure
Exposure
Interior — fully concealed
Interior — exposed / Architectural
Exterior — covered (porch, soffit)
Exterior — exposed to weather
Below grade
Step 3 of 8
Span & geometry.
The numbers Forte and WoodWorks need to size the member. Clear span, tributary, bearing, and any special geometry.
Clear span
ft-in
inches
mm
Is this a continuous beam (multiple spans)?
No — single span
Yes — 2 spans
Yes — 3+ spans
Span 1 length
Span 2 length
Span 1
Span 2
Span 3+
Tributary width
Distance from beam centerline to halfway to the next support on each side. If joists load from one side only, enter that distance.
Joist / Rafter span (if applicable)
Joists load one side
Joists load both sides
N/A
Beam spacing (if repetitive)
This is a single beam — not repetitive
Repetitive — spacing:
Cantilever
No cantilever
Cantilever one end
Cantilever both ends
Cantilever length
Backspan length
Left cantilever
Right cantilever
Backspan
Bearing length available
Standard — 3.5" (2x4 wall)
Standard — 5.5" (2x6 wall)
Column / Post — 5.5" or greater
Steel column / Plate
Limited — less than 3.5"
Not sure
Maximum beam size for this application
If this beam must fit within a floor system, match an existing joist depth, or clear a window/door head height — enter the constraint here. Leave blank if no constraint and we'll size for best performance.
Maximum depth (optional)
Maximum width (optional)
Step 4 of 8
Loading.
Every load that acts on this beam. Dead, live, snow, point loads, special conditions. This is what Forte and WoodWorks calculate against.
Dead load (sustained)
Light — 10 psf (standard wood frame floor or roof)
Medium — 15 psf (tile, gypcrete, or heavy flooring)
Heavy — 20+ psf (stone, concrete topping, green roof)
Custom
Not sure — use standard assumptions
Live load
Residential floor — 40 psf
Residential sleeping area — 30 psf
Deck / Balcony — 40 psf
Uninhabitable attic — 20 psf
Habitable attic / Loft — 30 psf
Light storage — 20 psf
Roof — 20 psf (non-snow)
Commercial / Assembly — 50+ psf
Custom
Not sure — use code minimum for application
Snow load
None — no snow load applies
Ground snow load known
Roof snow load known
Not sure — we'll determine from project location
N/A — floor beam only
Ground snow load
Roof snow load
Wind load consideration
Not applicable to this beam
Beam is part of lateral system / Shear path
Beam supports windward wall or header
Uplift condition — beam must resist net uplift
Not sure
Point loads on this beam
None — uniform load only
Yes — point load(s) present
Load #1 (lbs)
Distance from left bearing
Source
Post from above
Beam from above
Header reaction
Other
Special loading conditions
Select all that apply.
Hot tub / Heavy fixture
Fireplace / Masonry chimney above
Mechanical equipment (HVAC unit, etc.)
Solar panel array
Soil or hydrostatic pressure (below grade)
Seismic — beam is part of lateral system
Impact / Dynamic load
None
Not sure
Step 5 of 8
Support & bearing.
What's holding this beam up at each end — and in between if continuous. Support type, connection method, and lateral bracing affect sizing, bearing stress checks, and connection design.
Left support
Wood stud wall (single top plate)
Wood stud wall (double top plate)
Wood post — 4x4
Wood post — 6x6
Wood post — other
Glulam or LVL column
Steel column
Steel beam
Concrete / Masonry wall
Concrete pier / Footing
Existing beam (remodel)
Other
Right support
Wood stud wall (single top plate)
Wood stud wall (double top plate)
Wood post — 4x4
Wood post — 6x6
Wood post — other
Glulam or LVL column
Steel column
Steel beam
Concrete / Masonry wall
Concrete pier / Footing
Existing beam (remodel)
Other
Connection type — left end
Top-bearing — beam sits on top of support
Face-mount hanger (joist hanger style)
Concealed hanger (flush framing)
Pocket / Notch into wall or beam
Welded / Bolted to steel
Not sure — recommend
Connection type — right end
Top-bearing — beam sits on top of support
Face-mount hanger (joist hanger style)
Concealed hanger (flush framing)
Pocket / Notch into wall or beam
Welded / Bolted to steel
Not sure — recommend
Lateral bracing
Continuous — top of beam braced by decking or sheathing
Intermittent — braced at joist or rafter connections
Unbraced — freestanding, no lateral support
Braced at bearing points only
Not sure
Is the beam carrying a load-bearing wall above?
No
Yes — single story wall above
Yes — multi-story stacked walls above
Yes — partial wall (not full span)
Not sure
Does this beam transfer load to a beam below?
No — bears directly on foundation or wall
Yes — posts down to beam below
Yes — stacked beam condition
Not sure
Step 6 of 8
Material & product preference.
What product to size — or if you want options compared. Drives Forte species and grade inputs and WoodWorks product database selection.
Preferred product type
Glulam
LVL (laminated veneer lumber)
PSL (parallel strand lumber)
LSL (laminated strand lumber)
Solid sawn timber
Steel (for comparison)
No preference — recommend best option
Compare multiple — show me options
Glulam specification
Douglas Fir — 24F-V4 (standard structural)
Douglas Fir — 24F-V8 (balanced layup)
Alaska Yellow Cedar — 24F (naturally durable)
Custom layup — we'll specify based on load
Not sure — recommend grade for application
Sizing format
Standard glulam sizes (1-1/2" lamination increments)
Standard EWP sizes (9-1/2", 11-7/8", 14", 16", 18", 20")
Either — best fit for application
Custom — specific constraint below
EWP specification
LVL — 1.9E (standard)
LVL — 2.0E (high-mod)
LVL — 2.1E (premium)
PSL — 2.0E (Parallam or equivalent)
LSL — 1.55E (TimberStrand or equivalent)
Multiple plies
Not sure — recommend product for application
Solid sawn specification
Douglas Fir — Select Structural
Douglas Fir — No. 1
Douglas Fir — No. 2
Hem-Fir — No. 1 or better
Southern Yellow Pine — No. 1
Cedar — structural grade
Other species
Not sure — recommend
Maximum beam size for this application
If this beam must fit within a floor system, match an existing joist depth, or clear a window/door head height — enter the constraint here. Leave blank if no constraint.
Maximum depth (optional)
Maximum width (optional)
Treatment
None — interior, dry service
Preservative treated — ground contact (UC4A)
Preservative treated — above ground (UC3B)
Hi-Clear II (exterior glulam)
Fire retardant treated (FRT)
Not sure — recommend based on exposure
Manufacturer preference
No preference
Weyerhaeuser
Boise Cascade
LP (Louisiana-Pacific)
Anthony Forest Products
Rosboro
Calvert
Other
Step 7 of 8
Performance criteria.
Deflection limits, vibration, fire rating, and appearance requirements. The difference between a beam that works on paper and one that works in the building.
Yes — sensitive use (home office above, open floor, long span)
Yes — tile or stone floor on this span
Yes — owner has expressed concern about bounce / Feel
Not sure
Fire rating
None required
1-hour fire rated assembly
2-hour fire rated assembly
Heavy timber (Type IV) — exposed
Not sure — we'll determine from code
Appearance
Concealed — hidden in wall or floor assembly
Exposed — architectural grade, visible
Exposed — industrial / Character is acceptable
Wrapped — beam will be finished with drywall or trim
Not sure yet
Camber
None required
Standard mill camber is acceptable
Specific camber required
Not sure what this means — recommend based on span
Creep / Long-term deflection concern
No — standard loading duration
Yes — sustained heavy load (storage, mechanical, water feature)
Yes — long span with permanent dead load concern
Not sure
Step 8 of 8
Additional beams & submission.
Batch multiple beams into one request, attach plan references, and submit. Most projects have more than one — this prevents multiple separate submissions.
Add another beam to this request?
No — this is the only beam
Yes — add another beam
If yes, you'll be taken back to Step 2 to enter details for the next beam. Each beam is numbered and tracked separately in the summary. For projects with 5+ beams, a full structural layout engagement may be more efficient.
Plan reference
Plan sheet reference
Grid line or callout
Plans
I'll upload through the Bardowl plan portal
No plans available — sizing from field dimensions
Plans are with my architect — I can connect you
Urgency
Standard — within 2 business days
Priority — next business day (pricing accelerator applies)
No rush — whenever you get to it
Priority turnaround is available on all Bardowl services and carries a pricing accelerator. Standard turnaround is included in base pricing.
Additional notes
How did you hear about Bardowl Design?
Returning client
Referral
Lumberyard recommendation
Web search
Other
Review Your Request
Beam sizing — everything we need.
Review your selections below. When you submit, this request goes directly to the Bardowl sizing queue. You'll receive a response within the timeframe you selected.
✓
Request received.
Your beam sizing request has been submitted to Bardowl Design. You'll receive a response with sizing, connection recommendations, and product specification within the timeframe selected.
Right member. Right connection. Right the first time.