Expert: Dan Griffin - 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
Jeff, I appreciate your taking the time to think the job through.  Things will be easier if you can remove the drywall on at least one side of this work, though it can be done without.  It sounds a bit unusual to be able to use a 2x6 header against the double plate that will still work for the door jamb and trim, so do a bit of double checking.  A normal 6'-8" door needs a rough in at 81 1/2 or  82 inches.
YOur double 2x6 is plenty of strength for the header.  The header does not have to be at the bottom of the double plate.  When you pull the existing stud(s) you do NOT need to support the loads, things just won't fail that fast, in fact, nothing will even wiggle.  There will be the tips of some framing nails hanging down that you want to remove - the best way is to grab them with a pliers and bend them back and forth till they break off.  Establish your king studs (the full length ones) that the jacks (trimmers)fasten to.  It will be hard to fasten these both top and bottom if you leave the original wall materials.  It may be easier to make some scrap blocks that you can lay in the flat and nail to the bottom plate and double plate that you can then fasten the kings to.  YOur header wants to be door width (36"?) + 2" for jamb and shims + 3" for trimmers.  If the header is not at the double plate, you will need to work out cripples that carry the double plate above the header.  You will need at least a cripple above each trimmer and probably one more to maintain the original 16" centers.  Install the trimmers.  It is often easier to cut out the piece of bottom plate between the trimmers before installing the trimmers as use of saws gets problematic.