No complaints thus far; everyone works. It's permitted and I work during work hours only (8am-5pm).

Beyond the usual complaints, of course! ;)

doesn't matter how you do it, as long as it gets done! Any complaints from the neighbors?

Beats a crane or skyhook.

Excellent! Interesting method creating the beam in place, not tried that.

No problem GG. Sometimes my interests and mindset predate my years.

I had figured you to be over 55 yrs by some of your comments and avatar. Missed that one.

I was playing with legos and tinkertoys in the 70's

The first 'true' glue-laminate beams came out in the '70's and were random lengts of 2x4 and 2x6. The machines would keep squirting out a beam (some 3 to 4 feet wide) as long as boards were stuck into them. I had some built 24 inches wide, 3 1/12 inches thick and 27 feet long for exterior benches. There was 15 on them and it wore out 6 men.

True on the heavy. Alot denser than 2xs. I have seen the chipboard/plywood gluelam beams in the lumberyards around here in stock sizes. Custom load bearing and sizes are orderable.

Still cool to use the term "flitch-plate" on here and have someone know what I am talking about.

>>20120 Incidentally, 1/2" steel in over-kill for just a 14' span. You can't stuff enough live weight in that small area to warrant 1/2". Bet that puppy cost a small fortune, huh?

Any flitch-plate beam is extremely strong be it either steel or plywood. Wood is cheaper (not as strong as steel) but can be installed piece by peice for just one person. Glue-lam beams are expensive, heavy and are on order only.

Why not opt for a glue-lam beam? I built a house in 1987 that needed a beam like this for a balcony. We used 2x10s to sandwich a 1/2" x 14' plate of steel between them for support. A glue-lam would have been a nice option at that time.

End view. This beam will support the ridge of the carport roof. Without a middle post it has to be this size.

All together...2-2X12s and 1/2 inch plywood in the middle to prevent sagging.