84
votes
Can I cut the small tab off of these rafters to make drywalling easier
Do not remove those. That small bit of wood prevents horizontal sliding of the roof beams, and therefore roof collapse. Those two screws that attach the horizontal beam can't compensate for that if ...
- 2,379
75
votes
Is it unsafe to remove one stud from a load bearing wall?
The opening you want to create has to be framed like a window as shown*.
Notice the addition of a header to carry the load of the cut stud (cripple stud) to the sides, and the added jack studs which ...
- 1,349
51
votes
Accepted
Is this a load bearing column?
We can never be certain from pictures but I'm going to stick my neck out a bit and say "yes", it is load bearing.
Given the open design of both the lower and upper floors, it would be ...
- 34.3k
49
votes
Accepted
Are gaps above and below framing members a concern?
I always wonder “what else is wrong” when there are so many obvious errors.
You’ve noted the obvious problems, but you’ve probably missed some major items that are not so obvious:
In Picture #1 ...
- 23.1k
36
votes
Accepted
Seemingly overbuilt basement wall - load bearing?
This gives all the impression that is was designed and installed to support the basement wall that the "arrow" of the diagonal bracing points to. The vertical post against that wall is what ...
- 64.1k
29
votes
Is it safe to screw into a single support beam holding up an entire house?
First that post is not carrying the load of the whole house. The beam is and the beam is attached on both sides. The post's job is to keep the beam from sagging and act as a point load.
I would ...
- 47.8k
28
votes
Is it unsafe to remove one stud from a load bearing wall?
It is absolutely UNSAFE! - this will damage the structural integrity of the wall! The load in a load-bearing stud wall is carried by the studs.
Your options are:
Surface mount the cabinet
Flush ...
26
votes
Accepted
How do I stop a creek from eroding my steep embankment?
This is often a complex legal situation due to regulations that affect (in many parts of the world) what you can do in or near a body or stream of water even if the land next to it or around it ...
- 202k
25
votes
Diagonal brace left in the basement by builder. Can I remove it? Replace it?
Yes, you can remove the brace because:
The wall is non-load bearing (not carrying a load)
The diagonal brace is not secured in a manner to transfer any load at the top or bottom
The diagonal brace is ...
- 23.1k
23
votes
Are gaps above and below framing members a concern?
It's probably a good time to review the contract you entered with the framers. Does it allow you to withhold payment until defects are resolved? Does it stipulate how claimed defects are to be ...
- 27.9k
22
votes
Long crack in I joist flange
That looks like typical checking just from the wood aging and drying out. It's down the long axis of the beam vs. across the beam which would indicate a problem.
Also that portion of the beam is ...
- 23.1k
20
votes
Is notching a flange on an I-Joist ever acceptable?
According to this document (PDF), accidental notches in the top flange may not need to be repaired if they meet specific criteria. To determine if a repair is required, we'd need a bit more ...
- 131k
18
votes
Accepted
Can I put a 6" hole in this ceiling joist?
That joist is carrying something, even if it the weight of the material that make up that part of the house. I would say it is more than that since the new 2X with the framing anchor is attached to it,...
- 34.4k
17
votes
Accepted
Is notching a flange on an I-Joist ever acceptable?
Point your home builder to page 9 of Weyerhauser's I-joist document. See the bottom right of the page where it says "DO NOT cut or notch flange". It is typical of all I-joist manufacturers' ...
- 19.8k
17
votes
How do I stop a creek from eroding my steep embankment?
Legal issues aside (that's not our pigeon here), a reliable way is dry mix sand bagging:-
Pick a low quality concrete sans water, place it at your leisure and let the rain /moisture make it go off. ...
- 415
17
votes
Removing Load-Bearing Wall in Timber-Framed House
What you're proposing and/or actively doing is a major structural change to the building. As such, you need to be sure that it's both safe and building code compliant. There is no way any random ...
- 23.1k
16
votes
Accepted
Can I raise a sagging shed roof by winching the walls back into place?
Your plan is exactly right, except that you don't need such heavy-duty hardware to do the jacking/winching. Even a pair of motorcycle ratchet straps or a come-along is going to do the job, especially ...
- 130k
16
votes
Pouring slab but second story sags in old home
You need to slow down and rethink this. You are on the verge of making a couple of serious mistakes. Rather than directly answer your question, I am going to advise a plan to do this correctly.
First,...
- 58.2k
16
votes
Accepted
Diagonal brace left in the basement by builder. Can I remove it? Replace it?
That wall is load bearing; it is helping to support the stairs and that landing.
As such, it can be subjected to significant load (think two 250 lb guys, plus heavy furniture, for starters).
More ...
- 2,872
16
votes
Are gaps above and below framing members a concern?
Yes, that is shoddy work! Did you pay for shoddy work or did you pay for quality work?
But things like this turn into squeaks, cracks, wobbles, etc. over time. So yes, if this was MY project I ...
- 23.1k
16
votes
Are gaps above and below framing members a concern?
Horrible work.
I don't think "I commissioned an independent review" will hold any weight with the contractor, unless the contract allowed for that. The contractor might dispute the qualifications of ...
- 1,426
16
votes
Accepted
Contractor claims new pantry location is structural - is he right?
I don't see where the pantry in its existing location is contributing to any support but can see the contractor's concern about the ductwork. How could he just move the pantry without getting any OKs ...
- 78.8k
15
votes
Is notching a flange on an I-Joist ever acceptable?
The Is of I-joists are NEVER to be touched nor any holes within 3" of the top or bottom edges. "Responsible" plumbers & builders re-spec a toilet with a deeper stand-off or just ...
- 10.3k
15
votes
Closet Wall, is it Load Bearing?
The framing above the pantry door is not load bearing. The doorway to the left of the pantry in the middle picture is load bearing. You can tell by the solid header.
- 698
15
votes
Accepted
Extending Framing Studs From 8' to 9'
In a non-load bearing wall the studs are really just nailing edges for the drywall.
You could just scab pieces to the side of the 8' to make 9' studs. So take the 8' get a 1' piece and then get a ...
- 13.5k
15
votes
Repairing a partially cut roof strut
You could put two plywood plates either side to strengthen it.
But you may not need to. How long has it been like that? Is the snow load significant?
Just remember that that strut is working in ...
- 26.3k
14
votes
How do I stop a creek from eroding my steep embankment?
As mentioned in another answer, there may be legal issues since the creek is a waterway. In the US, you would have Federal and probably state laws involved (many other countries have similar laws ...
- 24.2k
14
votes
Accepted
Repairing a notched floor joist
Good on you for leveling up your knowledge and learning where not to drill or saw on joists. On that same note, here's an excellent summary from BuildingAdvisor titled Guide to Notching and Boring ...
- 565
14
votes
Can I put a 6" hole in this ceiling joist?
As J comments, this is not a joist, it is a beam on which the joists are hung. Likely there used to be a load-bearing wall there that a prior owner had removed to enlarge the space. They could have ...
- 1,010
14
votes
Accepted
How should I deal with this protrusion in future drywall ceiling?
Jack it into place and nail it (spike it) in while jacked into place.
Don't overdo and jack up the whole laminated beam - just jack up the loose bit, and use suitable spikes into holes somewhat ...
- 202k
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