Expert: Bruce E. Johnson - 3/23/2009

Question
I am redesigning a bathroom.  One wall I am going to use to  put a door.  The wall is load-bearing.  It supports the ceiling joists and the roof is above the joists.  

The current wall has studs with the standard 16" spacing.  On top of the studs are two 2 x 4's laid flat on studs (longer 3.5" sides of 2 x 4 is attached to top of studs).  On top of the two 2 x 4's are the joists.

I want to create an opening of 36" for the door.  In doing so I am going to put in a 2 x 6 header.  I am going to attach the header to the bottom of the current two 2 x 4's that are in place.  To do this I need to take a couple studs out and move them to expand the opening.  

I plan on first putting studs up that would go next to the trimmer studs.  I am then going to remove the current studs that are in the way of the opening.  Then I will put up the header and secure it with the trimmer studs.

My question is will the two studs put up before the header support the ceiling joists long enough for me to get the header and trimmer studs up?  

Answer
Hi Jeff, you can probably make the change out without any temporary shoring for this instance.  I would expose the studs and the double top plate in your existing wall, get your header made up with a new stud nailed or screwed to each side of the header.  Then Sawzall all the nails holding any studs that are in the way of the new door, pop out the interfering studs and pop the header/stud assembly into the opening, plumb up the studs and fine tune your header location.  Then I would toe nail up through the header and the side studs into the double top plate and into the bottom plate.  Add your cripples under the header and then cut out the remaining bottom plate where the new door is going to go.I hope this information helps feel free to write again regarding this or other matters, sincerely bruce e johnson..bejohnsonconsulting.com