I am replacing windows in the daylight basement of an older home. There are no headers over the existing windows. The first floor floor joists sit directly on the top plate of the basement knee wall. The distant between the foundation stem wall and the top plate of the knee wall is too tight to place an appropriate sized header (2×6) so I am wondering if anyone has used steel in situations like this? If so, please let me know.
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What is the span of the opening?
Typically, the rim joist is doubled up over these openings effectively becoming a header. Even if it is only a single, it may carry the load of 2 or 3 floor joists, provided there are no point loads directly above.
Eric
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Edited 10/9/2004 4:13 pm ET by firebird
How very interesting. Second post is correct. The rim joist can become a beam by design in a situation like this. I asked a similar question earlier in the week, and just this morning helped heft a steel header into place. Went pretty good, and certainly isn't going anywhere now.
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What is the rough opening?
If you cut one or both of the top plates out of the way will you have enough for your 2x6 header?
Joe Carola