I have a 100 year old home and I have installed a header in a load bearing wall between between my kitchen and dining room. There is an existing 2-2″x4″ (true 2″ thick by 4″ thick doubled up) that i attached a 2-2×8 (with a 1″ board in between them). I figured that the 4×4 and 2 2×8 will be as good as 2 2x12s. The unsupported length (opening) is 7 ft. The home has a second story (bedrooms) and attic above the second story. Is this header system strong enough?
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Well, it depends....
The combination you have is not as strong as a solid but probably will do the job.
But the disclaimer is that there is no way to se what and how the upper loads are on this.
Thanks for the response. To give you a little more info.. The house is 23 ft wide (center hall colonial) and the section im working on is 12 ft wide. Above this section of the house is a bedroom, a bath and above that is an attic. Hope this helps
Thanks for the response. To give you a little more info.. The house is 23 ft wide (center hall colonial) and the section im working on is 12 ft wide. Above this section of the house is a bedroom, a bath and above that is an attic. Hope this helps
So long as the bathroom isn't above it that's probably strong enough.