AboutSteve Major (Owner - Major Design Group) Expertise I can answer any questions regarding the design and execution of home improvement and remodeling. This includes trade-specific questions (how-to) in all major building trades: framing, foundations, site prep, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, water treatment, interior finishing, trim & cabinetwork, exterior finishing, roofing, siding. PLEASE indicate your state or region, so I can provide the best possible answer.
Experience 25 years experience in home improvement design and construction, all hands-on, including the construction of dozens of single-family homes and hundreds of remodeling projects in the northeastern US.
Publications Author: "Architectural Woodwork - Details for Construction" published by Van Nostrand Reinhold (now Wiley).
Question I have a house built in 1900 and has one entrance to the second floor bedrooms and it is like 5'1'' in height and took out the sheet rock and the door frame(part of it) and 10'' higher there is a beam back to front(perpendicular to the peak of the roof and parallel to the roof rafters and below them) how could I raise the Header for the door with out causing for a collapse or structural problem?
Answer Alex,
Unfortunately this is a difficult question to answer without seeing the site or at least photos and/or drawings of the situation.
From your description it seems that you could at least raise the header the additional 10", but this probably isn't the case or else you would have mentioned it as a possibility.
You are correct in assuming that structural modifications have the potential to cause collapse or other types of failures.
In cases like this I always recommend that you consult with a local licensed architect or engineer who is willing to take on a very small consulting job. This person will typically visit the site and make sensible recommendations.
If you want to e-mail photos or sketches use: info@majordesigngroup.com or our fax: 866-636-2528.
