I'm remodeling a small cottage and took out a door and bar opening section of a load bearing wall. It's a low pitch hip roof and the ceiling joists run perpendicular across and overlap at this wall.
The existing framing had a 3' door opening and a 5' "bar" opening with no header (only double top plate).
I want to take the center 2x4 support out and increase the span to 8'.
IBC dictates using 2-2x12's for an 8' span, which is only a problem since the ceiling height is so low.
Seems way overkill to me since the existing framing had a 5' span without any header.
No loads above (only roof joists) and on slab.
Common sense tells me 2-2x4s would be more than adequate.
What do the experts think?
The existing framing had a 3' door opening and a 5' "bar" opening with no header (only double top plate).
I want to take the center 2x4 support out and increase the span to 8'.
IBC dictates using 2-2x12's for an 8' span, which is only a problem since the ceiling height is so low.
Seems way overkill to me since the existing framing had a 5' span without any header.
No loads above (only roof joists) and on slab.
Common sense tells me 2-2x4s would be more than adequate.
What do the experts think?