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I want to remove part of a bearing wall on the first floor of a two story house. Here’s what the wall supports:
Upstairs floor, consisting of 2×10 joists on 12″ centers, diagonal plank sub floor 13/16″ thick, T&G oak floor 5/16″ thick, and lath and plaster ceiling downstairs.
Upstairs wall, 2×4’s on 16″ centers, ceiling height is nine feet.
The upstairs wall supports the second floor ceiling, lath and plaster on 2×4 joists, on 16″ centers.
There is no roof load on this wall. The roof is supported by walls perpendicular to it.
All of the above was built in 1926, so the 2×4’s are actually 2″ x 3-5/8″, and the 2×10’s are actually 2″ x 9-1/8″.
Spans: On one side there is a room, 188-7/8″ from center line of the bearing wall in question to the center line of the opposite bearing wall. On the other side is a hallway, 66-7/8″ center to center.
I happen to have a 12′ piece of doug fir 4×10 (the new kind, 3-1/2″ x 9-1/4″), which will conceal nicely behind an existing plaster cornice. Finally, here’s the question: What’s the maximum I can span, from center line of doubled jack studs on one side to center line of doubled jack studs on the other with that 4×10? Anything between four and nine feet would be good.
Thanks —
— J.S.
Replies
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I want to remove part of a bearing wall on the first floor of a two story house. Here's what the wall supports:
Upstairs floor, consisting of 2x10 joists on 12" centers, diagonal plank sub floor 13/16" thick, T&G oak floor 5/16" thick, and lath and plaster ceiling downstairs.
Upstairs wall, 2x4's on 16" centers, ceiling height is nine feet.
The upstairs wall supports the second floor ceiling, lath and plaster on 2x4 joists, on 16" centers.
There is no roof load on this wall. The roof is supported by walls perpendicular to it.
All of the above was built in 1926, so the 2x4's are actually 2" x 3-5/8", and the 2x10's are actually 2" x 9-1/8".
Spans: On one side there is a room, 188-7/8" from center line of the bearing wall in question to the center line of the opposite bearing wall. On the other side is a hallway, 66-7/8" center to center.
I happen to have a 12' piece of doug fir 4x10 (the new kind, 3-1/2" x 9-1/4"), which will conceal nicely behind an existing plaster cornice. Finally, here's the question: What's the maximum I can span, from center line of doubled jack studs on one side to center line of doubled jack studs on the other with that 4x10? Anything between four and nine feet would be good.
Thanks --
-- J.S.