I have a traditional bungalow with stairs leading up to the attic between the living room and the kitchen. Both of the walls on either side of the stairs support the attic floor on each side.
I want to remove the part of the wall above the stairs so I have a diagonal opening between the living room and the kitchen.
Two questions:
1) First of all, can this be done?
2) If this can be done, how far apart can I put the supports and what size headers should I use for proper support?
COMMUNITY FORUM
- Forum >
- Home Design >
- Load Bearing Walls
Header sizing depends on material choice and size of the stair opening and the load on the floor above. That load is calculated based on whether it carries any transferred roof laod, the size of the fllor or span of the floor joists, the local code requirements for floor and snow load or live laod for wind, if the roof transfers any load to the attic floor.
You can see from the variables that an engineer or a very experienced frame carpenter is needed on site to inspect and study this out for you.
Anything less would be just a guess and you'd have to spend mental energy for years wondering, "I guess this won't fall down.
Excellence is its own reward!
You can see from the variables that an engineer or a very experienced frame carpenter is needed on site to inspect and study this out for you.
Anything less would be just a guess and you'd have to spend mental energy for years wondering, "I guess this won't fall down.
Excellence is its own reward!
