# New housing: design consideration, basic construction

**URL:** <https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-housing-design-consideration-basic-construction/45026>\
**Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\
**Created:** [March 14, 2008, 11:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-housing-design-consideration-basic-construction/45026 "2008-03-14T11:50:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fairgentleman\_Z](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fairgentleman_z/32/7263_2.png) [@fairgentleman\_Z](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/fairgentleman_Z)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2008, 11:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-housing-design-consideration-basic-construction/45026/1 "2008-03-14T11:50:58Z")

</div>

**I am looking for something like this but much more in depth:**

[http://www.uvi.edu/Physics/SCI3xxWeb/Structure/FrameConstruction.html](http://www.uvi.edu/Physics/SCI3xxWeb/Structure/FrameConstruction.html)

Nothing serious, but it’s free to dream. I am playing around with a couple different ideas for new home construction. I am looking for basic design considerations like joist lengths, post placement, beam spacing.

What I want is an extremely open floor plan and for the exterior walls to support the load. Sure, it’d be cool to incorporate say 10 x 10 beams in the aesthetic aspect as well.

Purely for the sake of argument let’s say 30w x 45l 2 story. NO interior wall support, NO interior posts.

Across the length heavy post support is both ends and every 15 feet. So 4 total (@ 0, 15, 30 and 45). Then width beams across the post. Normal second floor constrction after that?

**Is this even feasible? Practical?**

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nikuk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nikuk/32/7254_2.png) [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2008, 11:58am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-housing-design-consideration-basic-construction/45026/2 "2008-03-14T11:58:23Z")

</div>

Well top level can easily be accomplished with trusses.

As far as the fisrt level, yes it can be done, but will require large joists. I can get you the raw live/dead load numbers from the “Handymans Pocket Ref” when I get home… so you’ll have an idea.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nikuk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nikuk/32/7254_2.png) [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2008, 11:59am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-housing-design-consideration-basic-construction/45026/3 "2008-03-14T11:59:50Z")

</div>

I didn’t read your entire paper there, but bare in mind that further spaced floor joist will require thicker floor decking to handle the extra load it will bare.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Viper966](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/viper966/32/7268_2.png) [@Viper966](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Viper966)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2008, 12:12pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-housing-design-consideration-basic-construction/45026/4 "2008-03-14T12:12:42Z")

</div>

I have a couple of home 3d construction software suites that i downloaded off the net for “evlauation” purposes… most of them will let you know when something isnt possible if you go nuts with it… just as an FYI… i got them via torrents on the interweb.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![eMKay](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/emkay/32/7428_2.png) [@eMKay](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/eMKay)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2008, 6:56pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-housing-design-consideration-basic-construction/45026/5 "2008-03-14T18:56:28Z")

</div>

Are you trying to build a house for you, your wife, and all your little Nissans?