Conversation with a structural engineer made me rethink open floor plans

Jennifer Wood · 2026-06-06T07:35:05.067447+00:00

I met with a structural engineer named Dave last week about my new build near Fort Collins. He told me that big open layouts with long roof spans often need steel I-beams that cost $6,000 each and take weeks to order. After he laid out the numbers and showed how trusses can flex in those spaces, I decided to add a few interior walls for support. Has anyone else found that going fully open ended up costing way more than expected?

fiona_young3mo ago

Used to be all about open concept myself til I ran into the same reality check. The extra cost on steel and the headache of getting it delivered made me add a couple walls too. Sometimes the practical stuff just wins out over the trendy look.

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gavinlopez3mo ago

Did you actually get a quote from multiple suppliers or just take Dave's word on it? Steel beams are expensive for sure but you can get them from smaller fabricators or even use engineered lumber like LVLs and glulams that don't take weeks to arrive. Plus resale value on open concept houses is way higher than the chopped up floor plans from the 90s. I've built two houses with 30 foot clear spans using trusses and never had an issue with flexing as long as the engineer spec'd them right. You're probably saving on drywall and framing costs now but might lose more on the back end when buyers want that open feel.

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holly_walker763mo ago

Can't believe you'd just take one guy's word on steel beam prices without shopping around.

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