In article <[email protected]>,
Avraham <[email protected]> wrote:
>I'm remodeling a stick-built sunroom, and after peeling the wallboard
>off, I see 2x6 headers over all the windows and the door. It just
>makes me a little twitchy, comparing it to the 2x10 headers over all
>the other doors. So, how big an opening is a 2x6 header really
>sufficient for?
>Thanks!
>A
Is the wall load-bearing, or non-load-bearing?
For non-load-bearing, the practical answer is "as long as the 2x6". <grin>
On Mon, 04 Apr 2005 20:13:01 GMT, Pat Barber
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Actually it's better to "let sleeping government officials
>lie" or is it "let lying government officials sleep".
>
>I never could get that right(lie,lay,lying). Can an old
>english major please speak up ?
>
>
>
>
>Patriarch wrote:
>
>
>> Or do it wrong, have the project fail in some way, and do it again later.
>>
>> Or pay the penalties when the property is sold, and the work is found to
>> have been done without permits and inspections.
>>
>> Why does the law only apply for 'the other guy'?
>>
I don't know the grammatically correct way to say it, but definitely
the plan here is to ignore the inspectors and permits stuff. As far
as I'm concerned, it's my house, and I'm going to exceed anything the
codes would ask for to begin with. I over-engineer as a habit - my
workbench is built like a deck, with a ledger board and all, and
should support pretty much the weight of the house, should I be silly
enough to put it there.
A
It's best to look at your local code requirements. It depends on a number
of things; e.g., what's the design snow load for your area; what's the
roofing? Two 2x6's are suffice for at least 6 foot wide windows and doors
here in the desert southwest. But if you are in northern Idaho, they would
not be adequate.
"Avraham" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sun, 03 Apr 2005 22:30:26 -0000, [email protected]
> (Robert Bonomi) wrote:
>
>>In article <[email protected]>,
>>Avraham <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>I'm remodeling a stick-built sunroom, and after peeling the wallboard
>>>off, I see 2x6 headers over all the windows and the door. It just
>>>makes me a little twitchy, comparing it to the 2x10 headers over all
>>>the other doors. So, how big an opening is a 2x6 header really
>>>sufficient for?
>>>Thanks!
>>>A
>>
>>Is the wall load-bearing, or non-load-bearing?
>>
>>For non-load-bearing, the practical answer is "as long as the 2x6".
>><grin>
>
> It's an external wall, with nothing but 2x6 joists and a
> composite-shingle roof on top. So, it does bear *some* load, but I
> don't know how much.
> A
"Avraham" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> As it happens, a second look at the current
> construction revealed that the headers are already 48" long, they go
> over two windows with one header. So, no framing changes needed, just
> new windows. Fortunately - I didn't really want to redo siding, too.
> Thanks, all.
> A
When the house was built, the inspector should have looked at it then and
passed or failed it.
There is also a simple test to determine if the size is adequate?
Any big cracks in the walls?
Has the roof caved in?
Is the floor in the room above dipped at the end?
If the answer is no to all of the above, it is probably sufficient.
Avraham wrote:
> On Sun, 03 Apr 2005 22:30:26 -0000, [email protected]
> (Robert Bonomi) wrote:
>
>
>>In article <[email protected]>,
>>Avraham <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>I'm remodeling a stick-built sunroom, and after peeling the wallboard
>>>off, I see 2x6 headers over all the windows and the door. It just
>>>makes me a little twitchy, comparing it to the 2x10 headers over all
>>>the other doors. So, how big an opening is a 2x6 header really
>>>sufficient for?
>>>Thanks!
>>>A
>>
>>Is the wall load-bearing, or non-load-bearing?
>>
>>For non-load-bearing, the practical answer is "as long as the 2x6". <grin>
>
>
> It's an external wall, with nothing but 2x6 joists and a
> composite-shingle roof on top. So, it does bear *some* load, but I
> don't know how much.
> A
Which way to do the joists/rafters or the bottoms
of the trusses run? In general, if they run
perpendicular to an outside wall the wall is load
bearing and if they run parallel to an outside
wall, the wall is non-load bearing.
Avraham <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> On Sun, 3 Apr 2005 19:05:41 -0500, "Todd Fatheree" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>>"Avraham" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>news:[email protected]...
>>> I'm remodeling a stick-built sunroom, and after peeling the
>>> wallboard off, I see 2x6 headers over all the windows and the door.
>>> It just makes me a little twitchy, comparing it to the 2x10 headers
>>> over all the other doors. So, how big an opening is a 2x6 header
>>> really sufficient for?
>>> Thanks!
>>> A
>>
>>I just happened to be reading a book on framing garages today. One of
>>the pages had a table on mininum header sizes for various
>>openings. Below is the info from that table.
>>
>>Opening width Header size
>>up to 4' two 2x4s
>>4' - 6' two 2x6s
>>6' - 8' two 2x8s
>>8' - 10' two 2x10s
>>10' - 12' two 2x12s
>>
>>There is a note that this is for 2x4 stud walls in single-story
>>structures. If there is a second story, choose the next larger size.
>>So, I'd say without knowing details on the structural loads, the above
>>is a good rule of thumb.
>>
>>todd
>>
> Excellent! Thank you very much! I feel much better about our idea of
> widening the window openings to 4'
> A
And I'd feel better, were it my project, with a call to the building
department in my town. That's one of the reasons we pay taxes and fees
to have these services.
Building codes aren't just for the other guy.
Patriarch
"Wilson Lamb" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> Right, and while he's at it he can file for his permit, pay his
> fee(s), schedule his
> inspection(s), and maybe get any other work he has done onto the tax
> rolls (and pay for any permits he didn't get). What an opportunity!
>
> Wilson
>
Or do it wrong, have the project fail in some way, and do it again later.
Or pay the penalties when the property is sold, and the work is found to
have been done without permits and inspections.
Why does the law only apply for 'the other guy'?
On Sun, 03 Apr 2005 22:30:26 -0000, [email protected]
(Robert Bonomi) wrote:
>In article <[email protected]>,
>Avraham <[email protected]> wrote:
>>I'm remodeling a stick-built sunroom, and after peeling the wallboard
>>off, I see 2x6 headers over all the windows and the door. It just
>>makes me a little twitchy, comparing it to the 2x10 headers over all
>>the other doors. So, how big an opening is a 2x6 header really
>>sufficient for?
>>Thanks!
>>A
>
>Is the wall load-bearing, or non-load-bearing?
>
>For non-load-bearing, the practical answer is "as long as the 2x6". <grin>
It's an external wall, with nothing but 2x6 joists and a
composite-shingle roof on top. So, it does bear *some* load, but I
don't know how much.
A
On Sun, 3 Apr 2005 19:05:41 -0500, "Todd Fatheree" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>"Avraham" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> I'm remodeling a stick-built sunroom, and after peeling the wallboard
>> off, I see 2x6 headers over all the windows and the door. It just
>> makes me a little twitchy, comparing it to the 2x10 headers over all
>> the other doors. So, how big an opening is a 2x6 header really
>> sufficient for?
>> Thanks!
>> A
>
>I just happened to be reading a book on framing garages today. One of the
>pages had a table on mininum header sizes for various
>openings. Below is the info from that table.
>
>Opening width Header size
>up to 4' two 2x4s
>4' - 6' two 2x6s
>6' - 8' two 2x8s
>8' - 10' two 2x10s
>10' - 12' two 2x12s
>
>There is a note that this is for 2x4 stud walls in single-story structures.
>If there is a second story, choose the next larger size. So, I'd say
>without knowing details on the structural loads, the above is a good rule of
>thumb.
>
>todd
>
Excellent! Thank you very much! I feel much better about our idea of
widening the window openings to 4'
A
"Avraham" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm remodeling a stick-built sunroom, and after peeling the wallboard
> off, I see 2x6 headers over all the windows and the door. It just
> makes me a little twitchy, comparing it to the 2x10 headers over all
> the other doors. So, how big an opening is a 2x6 header really
> sufficient for?
> Thanks!
> A
I just happened to be reading a book on framing garages today. One of the
pages had a table on mininum header sizes for various
openings. Below is the info from that table.
Opening width Header size
up to 4' two 2x4s
4' - 6' two 2x6s
6' - 8' two 2x8s
8' - 10' two 2x10s
10' - 12' two 2x12s
There is a note that this is for 2x4 stud walls in single-story structures.
If there is a second story, choose the next larger size. So, I'd say
without knowing details on the structural loads, the above is a good rule of
thumb.
todd
Actually it's better to "let sleeping government officials
lie" or is it "let lying government officials sleep".
I never could get that right(lie,lay,lying). Can an old
english major please speak up ?
Patriarch wrote:
> Or do it wrong, have the project fail in some way, and do it again later.
>
> Or pay the penalties when the property is sold, and the work is found to
> have been done without permits and inspections.
>
> Why does the law only apply for 'the other guy'?
>
On Mon, 04 Apr 2005 21:12:59 GMT, "George E. Cawthon"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Patriarch wrote:
>> Avraham <[email protected]> wrote in
>> news:[email protected]:
>>
>>
>>>On Sun, 3 Apr 2005 19:05:41 -0500, "Todd Fatheree" <[email protected]>
>>>wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>"Avraham" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>>>news:[email protected]...
>>>>
>>>>>I'm remodeling a stick-built sunroom, and after peeling the
>>>>>wallboard off, I see 2x6 headers over all the windows and the door.
>>>>>It just makes me a little twitchy, comparing it to the 2x10 headers
>>>>>over all the other doors. So, how big an opening is a 2x6 header
>>>>>really sufficient for?
>>>>>Thanks!
>>>>>A
>>>>
>>>>I just happened to be reading a book on framing garages today. One of
>>>>the pages had a table on mininum header sizes for various
>>>>openings. Below is the info from that table.
>>>>
>>>>Opening width Header size
>>>>up to 4' two 2x4s
>>>>4' - 6' two 2x6s
>>>>6' - 8' two 2x8s
>>>>8' - 10' two 2x10s
>>>>10' - 12' two 2x12s
>>>>
>>>>There is a note that this is for 2x4 stud walls in single-story
>>>>structures. If there is a second story, choose the next larger size.
>>>>So, I'd say without knowing details on the structural loads, the above
>>>>is a good rule of thumb.
>>>>
>>>>todd
>>>>
>>>
>>>Excellent! Thank you very much! I feel much better about our idea of
>>>widening the window openings to 4'
>>>A
>>
>>
>> And I'd feel better, were it my project, with a call to the building
>> department in my town. That's one of the reasons we pay taxes and fees
>> to have these services.
>>
>> Building codes aren't just for the other guy.
>>
>> Patriarch
>
>Right, and what does the building department use?
> It uses wood structural data, but by the time it
>get into the local code or an official looks it
>up, the data may be magically transformed into
>something less than accurate. You may get an
>official that really knows, but the chance is
>probably less that 50-50 especially if you live in
>a big town.
>
>Best if you don't want to go second-hand data, use
>a wood products guide, many of which are free from
>the U.S. Gov't, State forestry departments, and
>manufactures of wood products. You should have
>some of those in addition to a basic manual on
>carpentry before beginning such a project anyway.
>
>Of course, if you don't know much which seems to
>be the case with the op, since he doesn't know if
>a wall in a single story house is a bearing wall
>or not, the local building department might be the
>way to go.
Actually I do know, I just was being both a smartass and unclear at
the same time. As it happens, a second look at the current
construction revealed that the headers are already 48" long, they go
over two windows with one header. So, no framing changes needed, just
new windows. Fortunately - I didn't really want to redo siding, too.
Thanks, all.
A
Right, and while he's at it he can file for his permit, pay his fee(s),
schedule his
inspection(s), and maybe get any other work he has done onto the tax rolls
(and pay for any permits he didn't get). What an opportunity!
Wilson
"Patriarch" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Avraham <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
>> On Sun, 3 Apr 2005 19:05:41 -0500, "Todd Fatheree" <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>"Avraham" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>>news:[email protected]...
>>>> I'm remodeling a stick-built sunroom, and after peeling the
>>>> wallboard off, I see 2x6 headers over all the windows and the door.
>>>> It just makes me a little twitchy, comparing it to the 2x10 headers
>>>> over all the other doors. So, how big an opening is a 2x6 header
>>>> really sufficient for?
>>>> Thanks!
>>>> A
>>>
>>>I just happened to be reading a book on framing garages today. One of
>>>the pages had a table on mininum header sizes for various
>>>openings. Below is the info from that table.
>>>
>>>Opening width Header size
>>>up to 4' two 2x4s
>>>4' - 6' two 2x6s
>>>6' - 8' two 2x8s
>>>8' - 10' two 2x10s
>>>10' - 12' two 2x12s
>>>
>>>There is a note that this is for 2x4 stud walls in single-story
>>>structures. If there is a second story, choose the next larger size.
>>>So, I'd say without knowing details on the structural loads, the above
>>>is a good rule of thumb.
>>>
>>>todd
>>>
>> Excellent! Thank you very much! I feel much better about our idea of
>> widening the window openings to 4'
>> A
>
> And I'd feel better, were it my project, with a call to the building
> department in my town. That's one of the reasons we pay taxes and fees
> to have these services.
>
> Building codes aren't just for the other guy.
>
> Patriarch
On Sun, 03 Apr 2005 22:30:26 -0000, the inscrutable
[email protected] (Robert Bonomi) spake:
>In article <[email protected]>,
>Avraham <[email protected]> wrote:
>>I'm remodeling a stick-built sunroom, and after peeling the wallboard
>>off, I see 2x6 headers over all the windows and the door. It just
>>makes me a little twitchy, comparing it to the 2x10 headers over all
>>the other doors. So, how big an opening is a 2x6 header really
>>sufficient for?
>>Thanks!
>>A
>
>Is the wall load-bearing, or non-load-bearing?
Sunroom-glass-bearing? Tubasexies s/b just fine.
>For non-load-bearing, the practical answer is "as long as the 2x6". <grin>
Oh, sure. Just look at "pre-standards" 2-car garage door openings.
--
The clear and present danger of top-posting explored at:
http://www.netmeister.org/news/learn2quote2.html
------------------------------------------------------
http://diversify.com Premium Website Development
"Avraham" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sun, 03 Apr 2005 22:30:26 -0000, [email protected]
> (Robert Bonomi) wrote:
>
> >In article <[email protected]>,
> >Avraham <[email protected]> wrote:
> >>I'm remodeling a stick-built sunroom, and after peeling the wallboard
> >>off, I see 2x6 headers over all the windows and the door. It just
> >>makes me a little twitchy, comparing it to the 2x10 headers over all
> >>the other doors. So, how big an opening is a 2x6 header really
> >>sufficient for?
> >>Thanks!
> >>A
> >
> >Is the wall load-bearing, or non-load-bearing?
> >
> >For non-load-bearing, the practical answer is "as long as the 2x6".
<grin>
>
> It's an external wall, with nothing but 2x6 joists and a
> composite-shingle roof on top. So, it does bear *some* load, but I
> don't know how much.
> A
It is a load bearing wall then. Consult your local building code for the
requirements in your area.
Jim
Patriarch wrote:
> Avraham <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
>
>>On Sun, 3 Apr 2005 19:05:41 -0500, "Todd Fatheree" <[email protected]>
>>wrote:
>>
>>
>>>"Avraham" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>>news:[email protected]...
>>>
>>>>I'm remodeling a stick-built sunroom, and after peeling the
>>>>wallboard off, I see 2x6 headers over all the windows and the door.
>>>>It just makes me a little twitchy, comparing it to the 2x10 headers
>>>>over all the other doors. So, how big an opening is a 2x6 header
>>>>really sufficient for?
>>>>Thanks!
>>>>A
>>>
>>>I just happened to be reading a book on framing garages today. One of
>>>the pages had a table on mininum header sizes for various
>>>openings. Below is the info from that table.
>>>
>>>Opening width Header size
>>>up to 4' two 2x4s
>>>4' - 6' two 2x6s
>>>6' - 8' two 2x8s
>>>8' - 10' two 2x10s
>>>10' - 12' two 2x12s
>>>
>>>There is a note that this is for 2x4 stud walls in single-story
>>>structures. If there is a second story, choose the next larger size.
>>>So, I'd say without knowing details on the structural loads, the above
>>>is a good rule of thumb.
>>>
>>>todd
>>>
>>
>>Excellent! Thank you very much! I feel much better about our idea of
>>widening the window openings to 4'
>>A
>
>
> And I'd feel better, were it my project, with a call to the building
> department in my town. That's one of the reasons we pay taxes and fees
> to have these services.
>
> Building codes aren't just for the other guy.
>
> Patriarch
Right, and what does the building department use?
It uses wood structural data, but by the time it
get into the local code or an official looks it
up, the data may be magically transformed into
something less than accurate. You may get an
official that really knows, but the chance is
probably less that 50-50 especially if you live in
a big town.
Best if you don't want to go second-hand data, use
a wood products guide, many of which are free from
the U.S. Gov't, State forestry departments, and
manufactures of wood products. You should have
some of those in addition to a basic manual on
carpentry before beginning such a project anyway.
Of course, if you don't know much which seems to
be the case with the op, since he doesn't know if
a wall in a single story house is a bearing wall
or not, the local building department might be the
way to go.