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Exterior balloon framed wall, adding a header for an addition

806 views 4 replies 2 participants last post by  Fisher1871 
#1 ·
I tried to be as descriptive as possible in the title, but a picture may help.



This is an old fashioned balloon framed home. The exterior wall studs run from the sill plate (below what can be seen in photo) all the way to the top plate where the rafters rest. The 2x4s are probably 22-24ft in total length.

This photo is of the kitchen. I would like to add a small addition protruding beyond the wall in the photo, thereby enlarging the kitchen. The addition will run the entire length of the house, but a header will only need installed where I remove the wall (in picture) to enlarge the kitchen.

I can envision how I would support the floor joists for the second floor in this project, but how the heck would I support the 2x4s (once cut) that make up the 2nd floor exterior wall and support the roof?
 
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#2 ·
Up stairs do a temp header with 2 2x10 screwed to the studs one above the other 4 screws into each stud. Hold up floor with temp wall remove the board the joist sit on and cut in your new header, at least 2 jack studs on each side all the way down.
A 2 ply 2x10 header will be really close to over loaded, You may want to go with LVLs
 
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