All How-To Topics
|
|
Shoring up a load-bearing wall
comments (2) January 31st, 2011 in Project Gallery
Rob Wotzak, Web Producer
Click the "thumbs up" button above to vote for this tip. Help us choose Fine Homebuilding's top-10 window and door tips.
Photo: Drawing by Chuck Miller
When I need to install a header for a new window or door in a bearing wall, I shore up the wall with a temporary row of angled 2x4s alongside the existing wall. As shown in the drawing, the temporary wall bears on top and bottom plates that are screwed to the ceiling and floor. After the plates are set, I wedge 2x4s that are a couple of inches longer than the distance between the plates into the pattern shown in the drawing. I drive a nail through the base of the first stud. Then I persuade the rest of the studs into position. This action doesn't take a lot of force, but the studs should be tight to one another.
The last stud gets a nail through its base into the bottom plate to keep the row in place. This system works well for me without wasting any studs, very few nails and a minimum of installation effort.
Christopher Norell, Greenbrook, NJ
posted in: Project Gallery, framing, windows, doors
|
|
|
|
-
How to Paint Fiber-Cement Siding
Painter Jim Lacey shares some tips for caulking and painting fiber-cement siding. read more
|
|
The Best Door and Window Tips
Give you're favorite tip a thumbs up
Browse through this collection of Fine Homebuilding reader-submitted window and door tips, and tell us which ones are the most, useful, interesting, and innovative. We'll tally the thumbs up and make a pdf download of the ten favorite tips.
Have a better tip to share?
Stop by our There's a Better Way Quick Tips page and post your own ingenious construction solutions.
Comments (2)
Posted: 5:04 pm on August 17th
Posted: 6:13 pm on February 13th
You must be logged in to post comments. Log in.