Expert: Veto Varma - 4/15/2007

Question
I have a home which has cross braces in between 9 x 9's underneath. I am looking to build a storage area and I need to remove these cross braces...What would be a good way of doing so? I can sheer all of the walls down there. There is a picture here:

http://boards.hgtv.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/4774011632/m/1561006513

Please advise...

Regards

Eric

Answer
Hello Eric,

Cross braces are provided to resist horizontal loading e.g. wind, side thrust etc and to provide overall stability to the system.

I could not see the pictures you mentioned here. But the best advise I can give you is to consult a structural engineer who can come and see that physically or can get to the drawings to provide the best option. But please do not remove these bracing without consulting. This bracing may be a part of overall structural system.

There are many ways to transfer this load sharing by cross bracing to other structural parts but it is difficult to comment on it without knowing completely about it.

Regards
Veto