Replies

1. 
   custombuilt | Oct 06, 2005 02:19am | #1

   Build temp 2/6 supporting walls

    

    

    

   When in doubt, get a bigger hammer!
2. 
   JohnSprung | Oct 06, 2005 02:39am | #2

   Typically just frame a temp wall parallel to the bearing wall, about 3 ft. from it.  If this is over a crawl, build up cribbing and some sort of beam under the temp wall to carry the load all the way to the ground.  If it's an upper floor, do the calcs to see if you need to shore the lower story.

    

    

   -- J.S.

    

1. 
   CVBReno | Oct 06, 2005 02:52am | #3

   Thanks John,

   The opening in question is in the middle story of a 3-story house.  This wall extends to all three floors, with the stairways along one side.  It also forms the exterior wall of the upper floor and therefore holds up the roof, too.

   It will be a challenge to make a temp. support wall since there is a stairway on one side of the opening and a vaulted ceiling on the other side. 

   What do you think about attaching a temporary 2x12 (or a doubled 2x12) with lag screws to the studs above the header?

1. 
   JohnSprung | Oct 07, 2005 02:50am | #4

   In the middle floor of a three story with that complexity, I'd pay my engineer to design the header and the temporary shoring.  The permanent loads that get moved to the ends of the new header have to be carried all the way to the ground.

   That being said, instead of lagging to the cripple studs, I'd consider a 2x12 or whatever on each side, tied together thru the stud bays with carriage bolts, plus some 2x4 blocks on top between the 2x12's and the existing top plates.  It saves chewing up the studs with lag bolts.  This sounds like you have plenty of room above the new header.  

    

   -- J.S.