Hi

 

Should I keep the double top plate and use a 5.5″ LVL header or remove the lower top plate and use a 7.25″ LVL header? I will lose 0.25″ of head clearance with the larger LVL, no biggie. Regardless of which option I go with, I will install 2 king studs and 2 jack studs on both sides.

 

This is a gable end of a colonial style house. 2×4 construction. It used to be an exterior wall with a door but had an addition built off this wall, so it is now an interior wall, still “load bearing.”

 

Thanks