Eastern Red Cedar Span
2/25/14
I am reconstructing an old rock building that i was told was a stagecoach stop in the late 1800s -- see image. I am planning on extending 6x8 Eastern Red Cedar beams across the top for visual effect and to run electrical conduit and hang ceiling fans, but no real load. The span is less than 15 feet. I am putting a roof on so they will be out of the weather, except for the part that extends through the wall, but that's not my concern. I'm just wondering if 6x8 will be strong enough not to sag.
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2/28/14 #2: Eastern Red Cedar Span ...
A good architect can do the calculations for you. Or try engineering extension at your state university.
Obviously, they will sag, so you need to put on a limit...1/2" in 14' or whatever.
3/3/14 #4: Eastern Red Cedar Span ...
A 1/2 inch sag would not bother me. I just don't want it dropping four inches or so.
Thanks for the advice. I'm having a tough time getting span info on cedar. We have some old Spanish missions in San Antonio and in a couple areas of one of the missions they have some old Eastern Red Cedar logs that span more than 20 feet. This is where I got the idea of using the ERC. But, those are not milled at all.