DIY Home Improvement Forum banner

Putting in header in wall!

15K views 144 replies 11 participants last post by  notmrjohn 
#1 ·
Hi everyone
been reading throughout here and see that a lot of people have the same project, but everyone's case is unique so here is mine. Appreciate any insight/suggestions you all have.

so basically we want to put in a 4ft opening in a wall upstairs, 2nd floor. the wall seperates 2 bedrooms. the unique thing is that the 2nd floor is actually the attic itself, and so the roof is essentially tied into the wall, so to speak.

so our idea is to cut out 2 rafters, and install about a 40 inch opening with 2x10 headers. whats the best way to do this?

for your convenience i have a video to make it easier to see.

thanks!
 
#96 ·
" if the foam was taken off you are down to the decking of the roof." Up to the decking, from underneath, just at apex where rafters join, two or three places. On site inspector will want to see that N E way.
 
#98 · (Edited)
in any event something new. you guys mentioned floors. so today i went and dug up the carpet. turns out there is some vinyl tile underneath? looks like it was glued to the subfloor i believe. anyways i tried taking pic of the joists. from what i see it looks like they run perpendicular to the framing, about 16inch on center?

edit better pic: you can make out the carpet pad, the white tile towards the top, and the subfloor under that?
 
#99 ·
now this one i think you guys will go nuts:
this is right outside the door of the room we are discussing; the hallway. its the same set up as the room except instead of the rafters extending down into the room from the other pics, here you see they are chopped off flush at ceiling height.
 
#102 ·
the floor pic isnt the best,in post #98 you can make out the 2 little stubs showing from underneath the floor. so by perpendicular i mean they are running perpendicular to the framing of the wall

oh yea no gentle wiggling.

more bad news-window well in basement needs to be sealed. how do i do that! :(
 
#104 ·
Yeah, DO NOT WIGGLE THE RAFTERS!! I shouldn't have said that, sorry. Without an onsite inspection I really can't give you any more advice. Just not enough info. So please get it inspected and let us know what results are.

"window well in basement needs to be sealed." well, I might can tell you how to do that without killing you. Might be best to start a new thread in "Windows and Doors," with pictures Get more people involved, in case I tell you to make working room around well with dynamite.
 
#109 ·
Were some of those 25 calls to certified architects? If certified archy signs off on project, he's responsible for any failures. Of course if failure results in demise, fat lot of good that does ya. There are also independent building inspectors, folks hire them, or should, when buying a house.

Speaking of independence, call Carpenters Local Union 1110 (202) 588-0644. Tell um you want somebody to come out for an hour or so and take a look. Worst they can do is say they don't do that.

What's that got to do with independence? I here you say, as i step up to academic dais. Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia is where the First Contenintal Congress met in 1774, the Tories and Loayalists were meeting in what came to be known as Independence Hall, ironic. When i was a way little kid, every July issue of my dad's union magazene had a pic of Carpenter's Hall on cover. At that time I thought thought the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners was the friendliest Union around. You didn't even have to be a Carpenter, just someone who wantd to "join" the union.

So anyway, if you want a carpenter call the local union. (" If you want an auxillary call the ladies auxillary, cause the ladies auxillry is a mighty fine auxillary." Woody Guthrie union song)
 
#110 ·
mr john, i think when this whole thing ends, i will have to keep coming here just to read your posts. they are truly one of a kind. to think, me pissed off getting in the shower washing off all the nasty debris and grime from working upstairs, then coming to the computer to read these posts. i can say i get to smile once a day. now if only i can hire you to come by and fix it up!
 
#114 ·
Not necessarily an SE, but someone with the knowledge to come out and eyeball the situation in person, to make sure, as mike mentioned , that it is built correctly. We don't want fed to kill himself or damage the house. Just about every way that I can think of for fed to check it himself could be dangerous for an inexperienced person to attempt. Is that serious enough for you?
Everything else is just chit chat between friends, waiting for that inspection, keeping fed's spirits up in what has turned out to be a possibly discouraging situation.

Did it just get chilly in here or is it just me?
 
#115 · (Edited)
Not necessarily an SE, but someone with the knowledge to come out and eyeball the situation in person, to make sure, as mike mentioned , that it is built correctly. We don't want fed to kill himself or damage the house. Just about every way that I can think of for fed to check it himself could be dangerous for an inexperienced person to attempt. Is that serious enough for you?
Everything else is just chit chat between friends, waiting for that inspection, keeping fed's spirits up in what has turned out to be a possibly discouraging situation.

Did it just get chilly in here or is it just me?
You're good..Just shake your head and say Ohhh Mike.

He's easy going..not frosty
 
#117 ·
I too thought it was a knee wall, rafters were left just to make a "balanced" looking ceiling. Then I saw studs going all way up to what looked like a triple top plate and learned there was possibly no support below. Screwyness of what I was seeing in all pics made me suspicious of entire construction. didn't want to give construction advise based on pictures.
 
#118 ·
definitely lots of chit chat. but its one thing i love about this place-its such a community!

mike and kwik, i remember you guys back in the roofing days so really appreciate you guys dropping in!

unfortunately i dont think i took enough pics pre foam to show how the rafters were tied in. maybe i will dig some foam out, but it cost SO much money i dont wanna touch it:(
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top