Hi,
I’m replacing an existing 35″-wide window in my basement wall (poured concrete) with a set of two 35″-wide double-hungs — that is, doubling the width of the opening. The opening will go right up to the sill plate with room for a 4″x6″ header at the top. Once the frame is built there’ll be a vertical 4″x6″ supporting the middle of the header (between the two windows), reducing the span… but my question is how to support the opening while the hole’s being cut and before I get the framing in. The floor joists run parallel to the foundation wall so I can’t simply brace a few of them near where the cut will be. Doesn’t seem like there’s much point to bracing up the floorboards. Will an outside wall/sill plate sag over a momentary 6′ opening? If so, any suggestions on how to brace it? The house is a 1.5-story vintage bungalow and this is a side wall (not gable end). The current 35″ window has no header at all.
Hope that’s clear. Thanks for any help.
A happy HO in Portland, Ore…
Ruth
Replies
What's above the opening? How are the second floor joists supported? If your window opening is at the center of the house there is probably some bearing happening in the span you are creating. Is there a bearing wall running perpendicular to the joists on the first floor that intersects the outsie wall above your opening? Is there a splice in the rim joist above the new opening? Any point loads coming down on the exterior wall above you new opening from beams or headers? Are your second floor joists running parallel to those on the first floor? You could get by with no added support for the part of a day it takes to put in the new post, or you could need something. The construction of your house makes a difference too. New or old, Plywood sheathing, 1 x boards?