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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11The Ask the Builder DIY shed video is an introductory, first-step lesson for making a wood floor-system beam. Its stated focus is creating a splice, and the page directs you to part two in the playlist. It is useful for understanding the sequence and the idea behind joining beam members, but it is not a project-specific structural design. The page does not establish a beam size, lumber species or grade, supported span, design load, splice geometry, or fastener schedule. Use the video alongside the complete shed plans and the requirements that apply where you are building.
Watch the wood-floor-beam video on Ask the Builder before cutting material, then continue with the next video in its playlist.
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What this shed-beam video actually teaches
The page presents the beam lesson as step one in building a beam for a wood floor system. Tim Carter discusses creating a splice, so the practical subject is how a beam member can be joined when the floor-support assembly requires more than one piece. The page also says that part two is in the next video in the playlist. That makes this a sequence lesson rather than a complete set of construction drawings.
A video can show the order of operations and the reasoning behind a splice more clearly than a short paragraph. It can also help you recognize the beam component before you move on to posts, joists, and decking. What it cannot do, by itself, is determine whether a particular beam works for your shed. Those decisions depend on the plan and on the actual span, loads, bearing points, lumber specification, connection design, and local rules.
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Information you must obtain before building
The target page description does not publish the engineering information needed to select or approve a beam. Treat each missing item as a required question for the complete plan, designer, building official, or qualified structural professional.
- Beam dimensions: no width, depth, ply count, or finished length is stated.
- Lumber specification: no species, structural grade, treatment level, moisture condition, or manufacturer designation is given.
- Span and support: the description does not state the distance between supports, the bearing length, or where a splice may occur.
- Loads: there is no stated floor load, wall load, roof load, snow load, wind condition, storage load, or other design value.
- Splice design: the page description does not identify the splice geometry, overlap, joint location, plates, bolts, screws, nails, or spacing.
- Foundation interface: no pier size, anchor detail, post spacing, notch depth, or footing requirement is specified.
Do not fill these gaps with a dimension copied from another shed. A beam that works for one footprint, climate, species, or support layout may be unsuitable for another.
How to use the video as part of a complete shed workflow
- Start with the exact shed plan. Confirm the footprint, floor elevation, support locations, lumber schedule, and any structural notes. If you do not have a plan, obtain one before ordering beam stock.
- Watch the target video once without cutting. Pay attention to the order in which the beam pieces are positioned and where the splice is introduced. Write down questions rather than substituting your own dimensions.
- Open the next playlist video. The page identifies part two as the continuation. Watch the sequence in order so that a later support or framing step is not mistaken for a detail from the introductory lesson.
- Mark the splice location on the plan. A plan should show where members meet in relation to posts or other bearing points. If the drawing does not show this, stop and ask the plan provider or a professional for clarification.
- Verify the material schedule. Match every piece to the specified species, grade, treatment, and length. A visually similar board is not automatically an equivalent structural member.
- Confirm the support and foundation layout. Check that posts, notches, piers, and beam bearings agree with the plan before assembling the floor frame.
- Build only after the connection is defined. The video demonstrates a method; your plan must define the connection that is appropriate for your span and loads.
- Document the completed work. Photograph the beam, splice, bearings, and post connections before the joists cover them. Keep the plan and material receipts with the project record.
Related floor details—and how far they can be applied
Ask the Builder has adjacent shed-floor material that helps place the beam in the larger sequence. A floor-frame video describes treated lumber and 6 by 6 posts: DIY Shed: How to Build a Wood Frame Floor, Part 1. Those are details from that related stage, not proof that every shed floor or the beam in the target video uses those dimensions.
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Another page shows a first floor-support beam on four 6 by 6 posts. In that described arrangement, notches in the posts contact the underside of the beam, with a continuous load path down to poured concrete piers: Wood Floor Beam on Posts. This is useful context when reading the playlist, but it should not be copied to a different footprint without checking the actual plans. Post count, notch details, pier design, and beam dimensions are project-specific.
Do not confuse joist spacing with beam sizing
The floor-joist material is a separate step. Its layout video identifies the first joist away from the edge as the critical reference and describes placing the remaining joists 16 inches on center: Floor Joist Layout Video. The companion page says the floor-joist videos should be watched sequentially: Floor Joists.
“16 inches on center” is a joist-layout dimension in that material. It is not a rule for choosing beam depth, beam width, splice length, post spacing, or foundation size. Keep the joist schedule and the beam design as separate checks: joists transfer floor loads to the beam and other supports, while the beam transfers those reactions to posts or walls.
Understanding the splice without inventing a connection
A splice is the location where two beam members meet. In a shed floor, that joint has to transfer the forces required by the plan while remaining properly supported. The visible appearance of a joint is not enough to establish its capacity. A connection can fail because the members are not bearing as intended, the joint is placed away from the specified support, the fasteners are wrong, or the surrounding framing does not provide the load path shown in the drawings.
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Use the video to identify the sequence and terminology, then use the project documents to answer these questions:
- Does the plan require the splice directly over a post, over a wall, or at another defined bearing point?
- Are the two members the same specified size, species, and grade?
- What overlap, blocking, side members, plates, or other reinforcement does the design call for?
- Which fastener type, diameter, length, pattern, edge distance, and corrosion protection are specified?
- How is the joint kept dry and protected from decay where treated or exterior-exposed lumber is used?
- What inspection access remains after joists and decking are installed?
If the plan gives no answer, do not infer one from a screenshot. Ask for a written detail before making the cut.
Useful comparisons when reviewing two shed plans
The available video does not offer two engineered splice alternatives, so there is no responsible way to rank lumber sizes or connector types from the clip alone. If you are comparing complete plans, use the same questions for each rather than choosing the plan with the largest-looking member.
- Supported span and loads: identify the distance between bearings and the floor, wall, roof, snow, wind, and storage assumptions used by each plan.
- Lumber species and grade: confirm that the listed material is available locally and that the grade stamp or treatment matches the schedule.
- Splice detail: compare the joint location, bearing condition, overlap or side members, and the complete fastener pattern shown in writing.
- Post and bearing layout: check the number and spacing of posts, notch instructions, bearing lengths, pier arrangement, and elevation tolerances.
- Local requirements: compare permit, frost-depth, footing, setback, and inspection requirements with the assumptions in the plan.
A plan that omits any of these items is not automatically wrong, but it leaves you with a question to resolve before construction. Do not use a detail from one plan to fill a blank in another without approval from the designer.
Beam-to-post and foundation checks
Before placing a beam, trace the load path shown by the plan from the floor framing down to the ground. The related beam-on-post page describes notched posts contacting the underside of the beam and a continuous path to concrete piers. On your project, verify that the bearing surfaces are at the designed elevation, fully supported, and aligned with the beam. A post that only touches an edge, a notch cut too deeply, or a pier that is out of position can change the structure even if the beam itself matches the material list.
- Confirm pier locations and elevations before setting posts.
- Check post plumb and the dimensions of every notch against the drawing.
- Ensure the beam bears where the plan shows, without rocking or a visible gap.
- Keep cut ends and field-treated areas protected as required by the lumber manufacturer and local rules.
- Do not remove material from a post or beam to make an ill-fitting joint without approval of the designer.
Pre-cut and assembly checklists
Before cutting
- Have the complete plan, material schedule, and any permit or inspection requirements available at the work area.
- Highlight the beam line, support points, splice detail, and joist reference lines.
- Confirm that every dimension carries its region, load, species, and grade assumptions from the plan.
- Measure the actual lumber and inspect it for damage, excessive warping, splits, or treatment defects.
- Resolve discrepancies between the video, the drawing, and the material delivered before cutting.
During beam assembly
- Lay members on a stable surface and orient them exactly as shown.
- Transfer the splice location from the drawing, not from an estimate based on the shed edge.
- Use only the specified fasteners and installation pattern.
- Keep members flush and fully seated at the intended bearing surfaces.
- Record any field change and obtain approval before concealing it.
Before installing joists and decking
- Recheck beam line, level, bearing, post alignment, and foundation contact.
- Confirm the first-joist reference and the stated on-center layout separately from the beam checks.
- Photograph the splice and supports for future inspection.
- Ask for inspection if your jurisdiction requires one before the framing is covered.
Questions to resolve at the lumber yard
Take the material schedule, not a still image from the video, when ordering. Ask the supplier to identify the species, grade, treatment information, and actual dimensions of every beam member. Confirm that the delivered lengths allow the specified bearing and splice arrangement; a convenient stock length is not permission to move the joint. Check each piece for splits, crushed ends, severe bowing, or damage to treated surfaces. Set questionable pieces aside and request a replacement or written approval.
There is also no tool list in the page description. Do not assume that a particular saw, drill, bit, wrench, or fastening tool is adequate for a structural connection. Select tools only after the plans identify the fasteners and the lumber work required, and follow the tool and lumber manufacturers’ safety instructions.
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Common problems and the safest response
The plan does not show a splice
Stop before cutting a member to create one. A splice may be acceptable only at a particular bearing location or with a particular connection. Request a revised drawing or written direction from the plan designer or a qualified professional.
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The delivered lumber is a different size or grade
Do not assume that a thicker, thinner, wider, or visually stronger board is interchangeable. Set the material aside, compare its grade stamp and treatment information with the schedule, and obtain confirmation before use.
The post notch does not leave the specified bearing
Do not deepen the notch by eye. Recheck elevations and post orientation, then have the detail reviewed. Removing additional wood can reduce post capacity.
The beam rocks or has a gap at a support
Do not rely on shims or fasteners to force an unapproved condition. Check the pier and post elevations and correct the bearing surface in the manner allowed by the plans.
The fastener package is unclear
Pause assembly. Fastener diameter, length, spacing, edge distance, and corrosion resistance are part of the connection design. Generic deck screws or leftover hardware are not a substitute for a specified structural connection.
The video and your local requirements differ
Local rules control the permitted construction. Keep the video as an educational reference, but follow the adopted building code, permit conditions, setbacks, frost-depth requirements, and inspection instructions for your location.
Cost and purchasing decisions
The video page does not publish a beam price, lumber takeoff, fastener allowance, foundation cost, or labor estimate. Because the beam size, species, grade, span, and connection are not stated, a meaningful material budget cannot be calculated from this lesson. Obtain quantities and specifications from the complete plan, then price those exact items locally.
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Ask the Builder offers paid digital instruction, including a Wood Posts & Beams Videos product described as a 16-video series and a broader shed-building series. Treat those as educational purchases, not as a substitute for engineered information. Prices, access, and availability can change; check the current product pages and cancellation terms. No affiliate relationship or commission arrangement is established here, so a link should not be read as an affiliate endorsement.
No particular physical product is identified for this beam. Buying generic structural lumber, connectors, or fasteners from a marketplace before the plan specifies them can create an expensive mismatch. Wait for the written schedule, and retain receipts and grade information with the project records.
Where the full instructional sequence fits
Ask the Builder offers a paid Wood Posts & Beams Videos product described as a 16-video series, and its broader Shed Building Video Series includes a wood-posts-and-beams section. These resources may help readers who want the publisher’s complete sequence rather than one introductory clip. Pricing, access, and commercial terms can change, so confirm those details on the linked pages before purchasing.
Digital instruction does not replace a project-specific design. Use the complete plans and local approvals to establish dimensions and connections, and use the videos to understand the order in which the work is presented.
Bottom line for a safe DIY shed floor
The wood-floor-beam video is best treated as an introduction to the beam-building sequence, with the splice as its central subject. It can show you what to look for and point you to the next lesson, but it does not provide enough information to size a beam or approve a splice for your shed. Obtain the exact beam and connection detail, verify the post-and-foundation load path, keep joist layout separate from beam design, and resolve every discrepancy before cutting or covering the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ask the Builder video a complete shed-beam design?
No. It is described as the first step in making a wood floor-system beam and focuses on creating a splice. It does not state the beam size, species or grade, span, loads, splice geometry, or fastener schedule needed for a project-specific design.
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No. The 16-inch-on-center figure belongs to the separate floor-joist layout lesson. It describes joist placement and does not establish beam depth, width, splice length, post spacing, or foundation size.
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Does every shed beam use four 6 by 6 posts?
No. A related Ask the Builder page describes one beam supported on four 6 by 6 posts, and another floor video mentions treated lumber and 6 by 6 posts. Those are context from related stages, not universal requirements. Use the post count and dimensions in your own plan.
Can I place a splice wherever two boards happen to meet?
No. The splice location and connection must be defined by the plan. It may depend on bearing, span, loads, overlap, reinforcement, and fasteners. If the drawing is silent, obtain written direction before cutting.
What fasteners should I buy for the splice?
The page description does not identify a fastener type, size, pattern, edge distance, or corrosion protection. Do not substitute generic deck screws or leftover hardware; purchase only what the project connection detail specifies.
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Stop and verify elevations, orientation, and the drawing. Do not deepen a notch, force the beam into place, or rely on improvised shims without approval, because those changes can alter the load path and reduce capacity.
How much will this beam project cost?
No reliable cost can be calculated from the video alone because it gives no dimensions, material takeoff, connection specification, or foundation requirements. Price the exact lumber, fasteners, piers, and other items listed in your complete plan.
Are the paid Ask the Builder videos an engineered substitute for plans?
No. The publisher describes a Wood Posts & Beams product as a 16-video series and also offers a shed-building series. These digital resources can explain sequence and technique, while the complete plans and local approvals establish the dimensions and connections for your shed.
The Bottom Line
Use the Ask the Builder clip to understand the beam-and-splice sequence, then rely on complete project plans and local requirements for every structural decision. Do not cut, fasten, or cover the work until the beam specification, splice detail, bearings, posts, piers, and joist layout are all documented.
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