Expert: Dan Griffin - 1/2/2008

Question
I want to add an interior 48" pocket slider between a dining room and a living room. what is the best process to install the required header to ensure I do not have any issues.

Answer
You will need to brace the overhead load on each side of the bearing wall.  Is there a second floor, or simply roof load; is there a basement/crawl or slab?  If it is just a roof load and you weren't planning on 2 feet of snow, you can get by with laying a 2x6 in the flat against the ceiling and the floor on each side of the proposed opening and standing in 2x or 4x "studs".  Ideally, you would have a stud under each ceiling joist, but I think every other one would work fine.  If there is more load, you may have to increase bearing conditions from the ground level on up and may need to make heavier headers on the temporary wall.

Again, if you have your bearing wall opened up, cut points layed out, new header material cut and ready, and king and jack studs ready to go, and someone to help hoist this thing up in the air, then the load won't be in jeopardy for very long.  I think I would go for it with the flat plates and every other set of joists.  On a really good day you could probably pull it off without the temporary brace walls, but it is just not worth a problem.

The big problems that may develop have to do with plumbing or electric routed in the stud chambers you plan to remove.  Do whatever research you can before you start.  When you open up the drywall on one side, you will know for sure.