I have to put a large bow window in a house that I’m working on(93″w x 48″h). I have removed all the drywall and insulation from the wall. There is a small window there now. I had planned to install a temp. brace against the ceiling to support it while I installed the header. But I noticed there is no top plate showing at ceiling level although you can see either a plate or blocking up in the wall about 10″ higher up. I’m thinking it may be balloon-framed.The owner says it was built around 1910. There is an upstairs area but not a full floor.(The sidewalls upstairs are about 2′ high.)
What is the best way to brace this while I install the header? The header needs to go to within 3″ of the 8′ ceiling to get the window up where it should be. I’m sandwiching 2×10’s for the header. I don’t have room to lag a board across the top of the studs to brace to and I am worried that bracing to the ceiling is not the right thing to do! Has anyone encountered this before?? Please give me some advice. I will be to this point soon.Thanks a lot!!
Replies
Fromthat era, balloon frame is likely.
Still a couple unknowns from here, like how are the floor joists attached to the ballon wall.
Based on ones I have seen, there is a ledger let in just below the joists, so bracing UP on the joists won't hold the upper wall.
And how you will double stud to top of wall aftergetting all cut out?
Anyway, to set the header in, You can brace the ceiling so you at least are removing the floor load from above. Then it is only the roof load and wind loaad you are dealing with.
Then you can notch out half the thickness of the stud from inside and set one of the 2x10s flush to inside. get some jacks under it. Now you have temp support to roof, so you can go outside and let in halfway from there.
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