Window Rough Opening in the Wrong Place
As careful as I have been with all my foundation and flooring work (newbie here), this is my first big mistake. When framing and lifting the walls this weekend, I realized one of my window rough openings is out of place on the wall. It needs to be moved over 2 feet. The walls are all framed and up but no roofing yet. I thought about just leaving as is, but it would drive me batty every time I look at it! It’s my own cabin in the woods…
Can I cut the whole rough opening assembly out (king stud to king stud) and move it to the correct location and fill in with common studs to maintain 16″ OC spacing? If so, how should I renail the assembly to the top and bottom plates? Toe-nail? Is a reciprocating saw the tool to use?
Thanks for the advice!
Scott
Replies
most common method is to fill in the opening and recut a new one. the old closed in opening doesn't look pretty but once it is drywalled over one knows but you and all of us... I promise not to tell.
your stud layout may not jive with where you want the opening, so you may have to move some studs. with sawzall, cut what all the nails you can to ease the stud removal. studs within the window section cut to lengh in place. normally I like my header up tight to the plate with cripples below, but this is a case where you would probaby cut the "over studs" to their length and place header up to them.
don't go nuts over it, make the new opening and focus on avoiding the next mistake.
Yes, use the recip, with a good bimetal blade.
Is your siding already on? If not, tap up the top plates before cutting the nails so the blade will fit in without shortening the studs. Try to pry up the studs a bit on the bottom next, for the same reason.
If the siding is on, this could be a bit tricky. Most folks would just cut the studs out.
How I would do it: First I'd get out my trusty nail puller if I had OSB sheathing on the walls already. It should only take five minutes to pull all the nails that are in the way. You shouldn't have to remove more than two sheets.
Then you can continue with the demo and rebuild as mentioned above.
Can I cut the whole rough opening assembly out (king stud to king stud) and move it to the correct location.....
It sounds like you want to treat the framing that defines the window RO as a "unit", and just move it to where you need it. That's an interesting approach -- I don't see why it wouldn't work.
Just pull or sawzall the nails and go for it. As Sasquatch said, bumping out the framing will help you cut the nails without shortening the studs at all.
Toenailing the unit back onto the top and bottom plates is fine.
Let us know how it turns out.
Thanks all for your advise. Will move it this next weekend and let you know how it goes.
Leave the window where it is, and move the house over two feet.
just kidding.If you come to a fork in the road,You can eat your lunch.