Expert: Dave Johnson - 1/12/2008

Question
QUESTION: About the house, the house was built in 1959 and is a spilt level type home.  The original design of the house was that the lowest level was the garage and the middle level was the kitchen, living room and a dining room and upstairs is the bedrooms.  The lowest level is under the upper level and the middle level is over a crawl space.  I converted the garage area into livable space (Kitchen, dining room and bathroom).  The middle level is split in half by a wall that is 10 long.  On one end of the wall is a 30” opening (which is up against the side wall) and a 60” opening on the other end of the wall (which is about 26” from the side wall).  The roof trusses above this area are not prefab trusses.  They are 2x6 which runs from the outer load bearing wall to a 2x6 in the center peak (kind of looks like a “A” but without the middle sections).  The 2x4’s in the ceiling area run from outside wall to outside wall.

What I would like to do is build a 2 ½ - 3 foot wall from the side walls and then have about a 12-14 foot opening.  Open up the three rooms and make one large living room.  The question is what is the best way/material to use to make this happen?  I was unsure if 2x10 or 2x12 headers across the 12-14 foot open would be enough or would I need a steel type I beam?  Could you please help as this wall really makes the house chopped up and too many small rooms?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Dee


ANSWER: Hi Dee,
If your wall in question runs parallel to the rafters, there would be no problem as it PROBABLY is not load-bearing.
To be sure, what I need to know is:
What are the dimensions of the room?
Which way does the wall run? (across the room the short way or long way?)
You see, what is confusing me is you saying the wall is only 10'...
Sorry about this, but I'm sure we can get thru it...
Be sure and mail me right back...
Dave

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The total of the room is 23' (north-south) and 19' (east-west).  Remember this total space is divided into three room (old kitchen, dining room and living room.  The wall in question (a 10' wide wall divider) runs east-west and is about 2 1/2 feet north of running down the center of the total room.  However, on each ends of this wall there is a walk thru door opening that opens into the other side (on the west is 30" on the east is 60"). The wall in question had kitchen cabinets on the wall and appears that the reason for the wall was to seperate the living room from the kitchen/dining room.  The rafters above run north-south and are 2x6 (opposite of the wall in question).

I would like to remove the wall and make a one large living room.  There is going to be 3-4' of solid wall on each end of this opening.  The big question is with the total opening of the wall being 12-14' wide out of a total of a 19' wall, what type of header would I use, if it is possible.  I know that the rafters run opposite of the wall in question so I assume it is bearing some weight but with it being off centered and that I only wanting a section of the total wall open could this be done with 2x12's as headers or similar? Or am I going to need professionals and a steel I beam in place.  Again the only thing above this area is the roof (no extra storage or anything).

Also, the wall is constructed of what appears to be 2x6 studs.

I look forward to your response.

Answer
Hi Dee,
Thank you, that was much more clear. If you use 2"x12" (3)
laminated with some sandwiched plywood there will be no problem. Remember to keep BOTH sides of the wall supported while wall is removed and new work is done. This may be overkill, but I would rather you spend an extra few buck for lumber and be sure! Be sure to support new beam on 2 studs at either end.

Best of luck!
Dave