We have a large post-and-beam barn attached to our house, but have no door into it. I would like to install a door via a walk-in attic space we currently use as a closet.
The barn is staggered with the house, such that the floor of the second story of the house (where this attic space hits the barn) is 4' above the second floor of the barn. The 'top sill' beam of the barn runs right through the middle of where the door would be, and one rafter from the barn roof comes right down to the sill where the door would be. (the roof from the attic overlaps the barn here)
So my question is: can some framing be done so that installing this door will not affect the load bearning capacity of the barn roof? Can I frame around the door so a header carries the weight around the door? What about 'interrupting' that rafter?
I have a lot of experience with framing (new const) and general home repair, but have never run into a situation like this. Is this possible? Is it sensible???
2007-10-18 08:56:56 · 3 answers · asked by colin_21 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
Thanks for the answers so far - I'm just trying to get a sense of if this is possible before I hire someone to look at it. While I may be able to do the work, I do plan to have a professional advise on how to build it.
THanks!
2007-10-19 02:20:52 · update #1
It can definitely be done but I don't want to try to do it via this method. You need to talk with an Architect. Yahoo answers is great but this is a big project with a potential for disaster. I wouldn't mess around - have a pro look at it and recommend a plan.
2007-10-18 12:07:15 · answer #1 · answered by Steve in NC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It might be advisable to seek help from a structural engineer, you would have to pay a fee, but I believe that is the way to go.
It does'nt have to be typed on high grade paper in a glossy folder, just a standard A4, because that's what you are mainly paying for.
I have heard of a wire rope being used with a turnbuckle (bottlescrew ) to keep the walls from being bulged out by the removal of a beam
2007-10-18 09:12:05 · answer #2 · answered by xenon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are contemplating cutting major
load bearing members.
It can always be done if you reroute the stresses
and maintain the support through the operation,
but it's not an amateur project.
Without seeing it I wouldn't want to say
whether it's sensible or not.
Get it reviewed by a pro.
2007-10-18 09:07:42 · answer #3 · answered by Irv S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What the heck is the "flitch" beam. I never heard of that.
2016-03-13 01:28:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋