[jdm001]

A Question about framing for a load bearing wall... We removed a small countertop to reveal real shoddy work by previous owner. I'm not sure how they put in a header and cripple studs on load bearing wall.

I can see the cut original studs (marked in blue lines at the bottom of my altered picture); and I was able to put on a new stud going across. I put a picture showing one of the cut original studs.

But, I can't see the sides to see how they did the jack and king studs. I would assume that they cut to original studs for the opening (as marked in a red line in my edited drawing), that's the only way they could have cut and framed it--right??

Do I need to blow out the sides and redo, or can I box frame it on top of small studs inside the "window" opening? I would do the yellow lines and frame like I'm framing for a window; and screw/nail the jack studs to the side of the king studs through the single piece of drywall on each side.

Or, do I need to cut floor to ceiling before the red stud lines and redo it.

Lastly, this is a one story ranch and this nook was added in at least ten maybe twenty years ago. What can I look for as evidence the load bearing wall was at risk?

Many thanks!

Sent from my iPhone using DIY Forum

 

[ddawg16]

To know for sure, your going to have to bust out some drywall and have a look. If the jack and king studs are missing...you have to bust it out anyway. You might be luck and only have to do it on one side.....but in relative terms, drywall is cheap compared to right.

 

[jdm001]

To know for sure, your going to have to bust out some drywall and have a look. If the jack and king studs are missing...you have to bust it out anyway. You might be luck and only have to do it on one side.....but in relative terms, drywall is cheap compared to right.

Ah, yes, that's what I meant... I can feel the sides and I was going to remove all the "seam" drywall on the inside between the two rooms, that would expose a king stud.

Then, I would put a new stud for a sturdy new Sill plate. I would then put the trimmer stud sistered up to the existing king stud on the two sides, then put a second header beam in making two pieces of 2" studs as a header for the top.

In essence I'd be building it the right way, but with drywall already on the sides of the king studs (but not the "face" sides of the studs I'd be working with).

I was going to cut along the red lines to see the studs; but, my wife mentioned "why not just remove the drywall on the parts i need, and leave the rest" when i looked at it I figured she might be right-- do I really need to remove another two feet of drywall on either side making it harder to match the existing drywall (if i put it in place without removing more drywall, it would all be covered by the framing boxing the window).

I err on the side of overdoing it, but not sure if that's just a wasted effort here. I will absolutely frame it right--not taking any chances on the construction of the framing, but is removing extra drywall of no use to me at this point?


Hard to think of how to phrase it when writing on stupid iphone, sorry i didn't word the real question better on my first post!