I've been told that a wood beam will work, but I've always seen steel I-beams in other houses. Is it possible for wood to do the job? What are some of the pros and cons of wood I-beams and of steel?

Q: My house plan calls for steel beams that will support the floor joists and even parts of a brick wall. Can I substitute wood beams for steel? Is a steel I-beam hard to handle on the job site?

Don’t overdrive the fastener, stripping out the wood if you use an impact driver tool. It’s extremely important that you use the correct joist hangers ... that hollow steel round or square ...

I’ve been told that a wood beam will work, but I’ve always seen steel I-beams in other houses. Is it possible for wood to do the job? What are some of the pros and cons of wood I-beams and of ...