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Posted by ameijers on May 28, 2006, 1:08 pm
> House is a two-story four-square, built in 1903 of 3-course brick and oak
> joists/studs. On previous renovations I have noted that at least some
> joists are supported on one end by the brick and the centerline of the
> house (which is supported by beams in the basement) on the other end. I
do
> not know if this is true for all joists in the house, although I suspect
it
> is.
>
> I want to put an archway through an interior wall from LR to DR. This
wall
> runs parallel to joists in the basement and second floor, so I am pretty
> sure it is not load-bearing. Inside the wall, I see that it originally
> held pocket doors, with the original opening being 6 feet wide and framed
> by double studs on either side. Original studs run to the ceiling (10
ft.)
> and appear to be under a joist. Pocket door railing is nailed to
something
> above it, but so far I can't see what that is.
>
> I could live with the 6 ft opening, but I would really prefer to make it
> wider, which would mean cutting the double studs on either side. Would
> those double studs have been used for reinforcing the opening for the
> pocket doors only and not necessarily for "supporting" the joist above it?
>
> In other words, given the construction of the house, would a header be
> necessary for this wider opening?
>
You are probably correct about it holding the pocket doors up. But I'd put
one in anyway, just to keep the top of the archway from possibly sagging or
shifting. A 1903 house is probably done settling, but things still can move
relative to each other depending on weather. The stiffer the archway is, the
less likely it will be to have cracks at the corners.
Personally, if you can find some at a salvage yard or HFH ReStore or
something, I'd put the pocket doors back. People who are into old houses
usually love those things, and it could be a plus at resale. Found lots of
them buried in walls, where they just tore off the surface trim, and rocked
them in, or put up tacky paneling and a drop ceiling right through the
opening to bring them down to 'modern' 8-foot height.
aem sends....
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