If you go to 2x6's, I would try to increase the bearing. The 2x4 strapping will help the rafters to work together. 1/12 ft. Why is it called red cabbage when it's purple? To give you a general idea though, floor joists are sized to support 40 pounds per square foot of "live" load (moving weight) or 10 psf "dead" (stationary) load. Definitely not 1/4" plywood, it has no structural strength at all. How much weight can a 2x6 support horizontally? If so can you reference a chart online. People, who want to know how much weight can a 4×4 beam support, be it on the backyard swing set or the deck with a hot tub in it, worry not because we have got the answers for you. And consider what a mess 10 gallons of water, gravel, and fish will make when it comes crashing down. If you overload your garage's ceiling joists, the ceiling may appear to sag from the strain. Click to see full answer. BTW going to 2x6s will not help in this situation. A 2-by-4-inch lumber board that is 8 feet long has a weight of 17 pounds. A kiln dried 2x4x8 weighs in on the lighter end at around 9 lbs while the pressure treated 2×4 weighs in closer to the 17 lb range. Lumber Prices: Estimating the Cost of Dimensional Lumber Board Stud* 8' 2x3 $1.86 2x4 $1.90 $2.16 2x6 $3.70 $3.84. Hi and welcome here to DIY. 4 x 4!!! I'm sure you meant 1/4" plywood correct? 2 by anything isn't going to work lain flat. The longer it is, the more tendency to sag towards the center, even with its own weight. That leaves a big, thin 2 foot by 8 foot rectangle in the middle with no support whatsoever. The 2x4's are also the problem. A 4-by-12-inch board that is 16 feet long weighs 224 pounds. MountainManGanjaGrower Active Member. I would use two 4x4s in the long dimension, or maybe 2x6s if you can stand the height. Besides, how much does a 2 by 4 weigh? Here you can operate by assumptions that there is no wind or it is not as strong. Unless your floor is really smooth, there will be a lot of stress between the lower and upper structural members when you roll it and hit a bump. Now find the board footage of your lid by multiplying its length, width, and thickness, and dividing by 144. ... for 2x4's: it can hold 390 pounds per linear foot for 75% of the length centered on the span. You want to support this from casters only on the corners. How much load can a 2x4, 2x6, and 2x8 each hold is laying horizontally, yet turned on it's side? Like a pad at least 6 inches thick with wire in it, well compacted sand beneath it. Fine Homebuilding notes that 2-inch by 6-inch garage joists will support a weight of up to 50 pounds per square foot. How much does a pressure treated 4x4x8 weight. Other methods for determining tongue weight. For a real word application a 200lb person needs to be able to walk on the platform. The tub containing only water is 54 #/square foot. In this way, how much weight can a 2x4 hold? Make sure that you have a good bearing surface at the ends to support the ends. Now we get two 4' 2x6's. A pressure-treated 2-by-4 that is 8 feet long weighs 17 pounds. I'm sure vertical placement is stronger just from intuition, but how much? If there is no strong wind, a 2x4 measuring at least 8 feet can support at least 1,000 pounds vertically. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Service. However, if there is no strong wind, measure 2×4 at least 8 feet can carry at least 1000 pounds vertically. Are these just temporary. 4×4 Beam Strength. Used extensively in kitchen designs with floating shelves to support heavy glassware and dishes. I aimed for 500 lbs - 1000 lbs to account for dynamic movement of the person. I will defenitely move to 2 by 6 but using them standing up requires more technical aptitude then I have. Smaller shorter pieces can dry in weeks. static. The board foot or board-foot is a unit of measurement for the volume of lumber in the United States and Canada. Cut a 2x4 to length, support it at each end 1/8" above the floor, stand on the center of it on one foot and see if you can see any bending at all at midspan. What is the correct code for alcohol dependence with alcohol induced anxiety disorder? Your design greatly affects how much you can support on your 2x4. We are only talking about 20-30lbs man. I'm curious what the load bearing strength is for a single 2x4 - let's say 4 feet long - placed vertically (upright) vs. horizontally (lying down). A 4-by-12-inch board that is 16 feet long weighs 224 pounds. Try it. This wall would obviously contain a lot of studs, but that is still a ton of weight. You can span a 2x4 eight foot and the weight of the light/rail and mover will not effect it at all. We can position these spacers up or down as needed to set the desired height for the platform. Depending on the length of wall, a 2x4 wall could support 20,000â30,000lbs. 2x4's are only 3-1/2" wide. Start by laying out two ratchet straps across the truck bed. Softwood Plywood weight chart: Thickness Actual Weight 1/4” 22 lbs 3/8” 28.5 lbs 1/2” 40.6 lbs 5/8” 48 lbs. I am an Electrical Engineer, not a structural engineer, never risk your life based on what I say. We build two of these. Pressure treatment is a way of preserving wood to extend its useful life and increase its durability. The type of load in question will also determine how much weight a 2x6 can hold on edge. Assuming that the load is square and there is no wind, the average 8 feet 2x4. Spacers made out of more 2x6 material 8" long. Such calculations would hold if, for instance, the load is square. 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