Load weight/deflection question
Hello from definitely a NON-engineer!
I am fixing a 60' single wide mobile home that had a sun room attached along the 60' length. They share a common wall but there is now an 8' opening and a 3' window, both of which only had 2"x4" headers that are beginning to sag.
I would like to open this up now to a 20' opening, which would probably involve 2"x6" or 2"x8" headers or double headers to hold up the weight of the roof (trusses and decking and asphalt shingles), BUT this will lose a LOT of headroom as the walls are not very tall.
So I would like to use metal instead (a small i-beam or c-channel or something that will not bend) and not lose too much headroom. Maybe a 4" c-channel with small legs or ???
The original mobile home just had 2.5" wooden jambs around a 30" door (no big deal), but I would like to expand this opening considerably now to 15'-20' if possible and affordable.
Thanks so much for helping me figure out what product and shape and material and thickness to buy! Hopefully something stocked locally. And whoever comes up with the best solution will hear a really good engineer joke form me (yes another)!
Richard