Replies

1. 
   dieselpig | Nov 25, 2003 10:57pm | #1

   Jukey,

      Might get slaughtered for opening my big trap, but... are you sure the wall is load bearing?  Just because it is on the first floor doesn't make it necessarily load bearing.  If it isn't you can probably get away with your 1" trimmers.  If it is load bearing, I would replace the header and reframe.  You aren't talking about a huge area, just a little bit of blue board and mud and you are back where you started.   And you'll sleep better.

   French doors can be finicky in properly framed RO's.  Let you header sag even a little bit cuz of undersized trimmers and that door will give you problems forever.  If you are the least bit unsure (reasonable doubt!)  about this wall's function,  by all means go with the reframe.  1" trimmers may work....but it's a gamble IMHO.

2. 
   Framer | Nov 26, 2003 02:30am | #2

   If you take the old trimmers out and cut them down to 1" you'll only gain 1", so that would give you a R.O of 71-1/4". That's probably what the door measures. Hiow are you going to get it in. What's above this header?

   Joe Carola

3. 
   JohnSprung | Nov 26, 2003 03:27am | #3

   Do you have the new unit on site?  If so, measure it and see if you really need the full 72".   If you don't need to lose too much width, might it be easier to shorten the head jamb and re-work the astragal?  It's a judgement call as to how much asymmetry is acceptable.

   -- J.S.

4. 
   Lateapex911 | Nov 26, 2003 03:36am | #4

   Is the opening in a gable end? Or does the roof overhang the second story above?

   if it is a gable end, then you MIGHT be able to "get away" with one.  But if not, then take a deep breath and do it right.

   It's likely that your old opening isn't square, so your new rough opening will be undersized if you try to cheat the manufacturers RO, and the door won't fit. Double check the diagonals!

   If it were me, I would, without question, make a longer header sandwich of a couple 2 x 10s and 1/2 ply and turn your full studs into trimmers , and add the proper new elements. 

   Look at it this way, if you were going to a smaller opening, you'd have to figure out how to extend the siding, which is potentially a much bigger headache!

   Jake Gulick

   [email protected]

   CarriageHouse Design

   Black Rock, CT

1. 
   dieselpig | Nov 26, 2003 03:46am | #5

   Wow!   I love this forum.  See, I missed that.  I was assuming this door was an interior French Door.  You picked up on him saying something about the interior trim (as opposed to exterior)....good catch.  And before that,  Joe noticed the RO numbers didn't match up.

   Somedays I should just stay in bed!

1. 
   Lateapex911 | Nov 26, 2003 04:07am | #6

   " Somedays I should just stay in bed! "

   Hard to make a living that way! Unless you're a ....well, nevermind!

   I had a client once who palyed with his own money on the floor of the exchange. One day, he was home earlier than planned. I queried him and he said "The way i was trading today, my account will be better off if I play golf." And off he drove to the club in his Ferrari.

   Jake Gulick

   [email protected]

   CarriageHouse Design

   Black Rock, CT

   Edited 11/25/2003 8:11:23 PM ET by LATEAPEX911