Moving wall studs in load bearing wall

thardyjackson

I am fully remodeling my bathroom and installing a wall mounted toilet with the water tank inside the wall (between the studs). Bathroom is 7' x 7'

Wall is load bearing and has 2x4's 16" OC. I need to move 2 studs to create a 24" gap fro the tank. I.e., I'll move 1 stud to the left and 1 to the right.

I'm looking for tips so I don't create any sagging. For example if I nail in 2 new 2x4's in the correct location and then remove the existing 2x4's will the new 2x4's compress and get shorter? Should I try to jack the top plates up 1/16" and use new studs that are slightly long to allow for some compression?

Thanks.

PS. I know I'll have to put in a header due to span.

kaschmid3

If it is just a load bearing wall u will be ok to remove the 2x4, put in header and then put new studs and jacks. If one of those is a point load then would need to support than pit in proper header, it's prob not they would usually be doubles. How do u know it's load bearing is there a wall right above it on 2nd floor. Any pics

thardyjackson

Thanks for the reply.

I don't have any pics as I haven't done the full demo. I believe it's load bearing because some perpendicular joists end on the top plate. I am fairly certain there is a wall directly above.

I doubt there's a point load on my wall.

Cheers

GBrackins

is there a single or double plate on top of the load bearing wall?

__________________
Gary

"You get what you pay for, and sometimes free costs more!"

brockmiera

Where is this wall? Basement? Main floor? Upstairs?

What is above it? one floor? two floors?

Where are you located geographically? 140# snow load 20# snow load?

I just did this in my ranch. Well I made a 32" clear opening and installed a double 2x4 header for support. So no doubt it can be done but a lot more information is needed.

thardyjackson

Brockmiera - it's the main floor. Below the main floor are floor joists and crawl space. Above the bathroom is one floor only (2 stories). I live in San Francisco. I have not heard of this word you call "snow."

Gbrackins - not sure if there are 1 or 2 top plates. What are the implications?

GBrackins

double top plates allows you to frame 2x walls at 24" o.c.

__________________
Gary

"You get what you pay for, and sometimes free costs more!"

brockmiera

1 top plate usually means that it isn't a load bearing wall.

Ok so how wide it the house? How far from the wall in question does the joist span in either direction?

Yeah no snow over in your neck of the wood. But can you say earthquake!

KaseyW

What's a point load? [I'm also preparing to move a couple of studs in a bathroom remodel.] Thanks!

GBrackins

basically a point load is where a column or beam transfers its load to a wall or column below at that point

__________________
Gary

"You get what you pay for, and sometimes free costs more!"

thardyjackson

The joists span about 20 feet from the bathroom wall we're discussing to the exterior bedroom wall.

I'm attaching a drawing of layout. It's an old 1920's building.

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