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04-12-2012, 12:35 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 93
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can I get rid of this ugly thing?
there is a decorative (must be) header separating the dining area from the living area that I would like to remove and sheetrock over. Can I do this? This is not on the centerline of the house and I looked in the attic and there is no double beam or anything near that point.
Would I just pry the side off and fill the area with a patch piece to tie the rooms together?
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04-12-2012, 12:39 PM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Hartfield VA
Posts: 18,152
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can I get rid of this ugly thing?
Unless someone was there to look it over to figure out why it's there that knew what they were looking at I would not remove it.
Looks like an undersized header where someone open up the wall. But no way to really know without being there.
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04-12-2012, 12:44 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 393
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can I get rid of this ugly thing?
If you're sure it serves no function, then sure! But it could be a bulkhead of some sort for plumbing or electrical work that the previous owner did the "easy way". You need to check not only the attic, but the adjacent rooms. Also, I hope you're really good at drywall mudding and texturing (?--can't tell from the pic). Sometimes these sort of things end up leaving a scar that's worse than what was previously there. Not trying to discourage you. Just saying you should think this through carefully :-)
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04-12-2012, 12:50 PM
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#4
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DIY Enthusiast
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 772
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can I get rid of this ugly thing?
One way to know for sure,pry 1 side off and see what's behind it.
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The Following User Says Thank You to sublime2 For This Useful Post:
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04-12-2012, 01:12 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: WV
Posts: 2,106
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can I get rid of this ugly thing?
It would be much less noticeable if you painted it the color of the ceiling.
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04-12-2012, 01:15 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 393
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can I get rid of this ugly thing?
Wow. You really think someone would have replaced a load bearing wall with a 4x over that span??? My god. Lets hope not. Are joists in the roof perpendicular to that "thing"? If so, can you report their length and their spacing? Also is there ANYTHING in the attic above it...even a platform for storage?
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04-12-2012, 01:18 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 393
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can I get rid of this ugly thing?
And the joist depth
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04-12-2012, 02:01 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 93
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can I get rid of this ugly thing?
Quote:
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Originally Posted by cortell
Wow. You really think someone would have replaced a load bearing wall with a 4x over that span??? My god. Lets hope not. Are joists in the roof perpendicular to that "thing"? If so, can you report their length and their spacing? Also is there ANYTHING in the attic above it...even a platform for storage?
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Attic is empty. Roof joists are perpendicular yes. I will be up there saturday snaking some romex and will take pics and measure.
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04-12-2012, 02:13 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 393
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can I get rid of this ugly thing?
Quote:
Originally Posted by dwcopple
Attic is empty. Roof joists are perpendicular yes. I will be up there saturday snaking some romex and will take pics and measure.
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OK. Well, with joist length, depth and spacing (and a pic of the attic wouldn't hurt), we should be able to figure out if it's load bearing or not.
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04-12-2012, 02:43 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 93
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can I get rid of this ugly thing?
what do you mean by depth? Height of board used?
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04-12-2012, 02:54 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 393
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can I get rid of this ugly thing?
Yep. By example, the depth of a 2x12 joist is 12 nominal inches, 11-1/4 actual inches
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04-13-2012, 02:17 AM
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#12
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Newbie
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 16
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can I get rid of this ugly thing?
It may be there to hide the fact that one ceiling was noticeably higher than the other when (if) the wall was removed.
So if you're gonna pry it loose for a looksee, be sure not to damage it.
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04-13-2012, 07:18 AM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 93
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can I get rid of this ugly thing?
hmm don't think so, ceilings are level.
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04-13-2012, 08:52 AM
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#14
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Framing Contractor
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Caldwell, NJ
Posts: 1,755
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can I get rid of this ugly thing?
Quote:
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Originally Posted by dwcopple
there is a decorative (must be) header separating the dining area from the living area that I would like to remove and sheetrock over. Can I do this? This is not on the centerline of the house and I looked in the attic and there is no double beam or anything near that point.
Would I just pry the side off and fill the area with a patch piece to tie the rooms together?
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That is seen in many homes where that load bearing wall is removed and a beam is put it that is taller than the joists. Therefore the bottom of the beam is lower than the bottom of the ceiling. Cannot cut that out.
__________________
Joe Carola
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04-13-2012, 09:05 AM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 393
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can I get rid of this ugly thing?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Carola
That is seen in many homes where that load bearing wall is removed and a beam is put it that is taller than the joists. Therefore the bottom of the beam is lower than the bottom of the ceiling. Cannot cut that out.
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That has already been ruled out: "I looked in the attic and there is no double beam or anything"
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