Home Help. Is this weight bearing?

[sandyut]

At the bottom of our staircase was an old door jamb. We want it gone and wall flat. I pulled the door frame off and there are 2X4's surrounding the door where the jamb was. I feel like these were put there to fill the space so that the pre-hung door would drop in. Here are some pics.

Anyone have knowledge of this? I want to remove the 2x4's in the picture. If they can be removed safely, then a strip of dry wall would fix it how we want.

Thanks!

 

[chopsaw]

I can't say yes or no for sure from the pictures , but judging by the nails going into the head , there doesn't appear to be a structural header in there . Looks like cripple studs . So I would say it's not . If it was , there would be sistered together solid header above the door . Again , it's hard to tell from that picture .

Is the door in a basement ?

 

[DRKsmoking]

Hard to tell Dave with out looking at what is above it on the next floor.

But most times there should be a beam of sorts above a stairwell.

If you just want to remove the 2 x 4 on the left coming down so you can smooth out the wall with drywall. You can drill a hole with a spade bit to see if there is more wood behind that stud.

Do you also want to remove the header stud and drywall or leave it.

From the picture it looks like the top 2 x 4 was put in after the jack stud on left and right, so it might be able to be removed by pulling the spikes.

What is on the next floor above this spot where the door is.

Just my point of view from these pictures.

Hope this makes sence.

David

 

[sandyut]

I can't say yes or no for sure from the pictures , but judging by the nails going into the head , there doesn't appear to be a structural header in there . Looks like cripple studs . So I would say it's not . If it was , there would be sistered together solid header above the door . Again , it's hard to tell from that picture .

Is the door in a basement ?

It is. Bottom of the stairs entering the lower level.

 

[normanaj]

I'm going to say no by what I can see from the pic but like Rich said can't be sure from just a pic.

Not all that hard to investigate.A stud finder can let you know what's above but I prefer the hammer and nail method or better yet since you've already removed the trim and I'm assuming you'll be repainting then just cut away a chunk of sheetrock and give it the visual inspection.

 

[sandyut]

I'm going to say no by what I can see from the pic but like Rich said can't be sure from just a pic.

Not all that hard to investigate.A stud finder can let you know what's above but I prefer the hammer and nail method or better yet since you've already removed the trim and I'm assuming you'll be repainting then just cut away a chunk of sheetrock and give it the visual inspection.

Ill run the stud finder in a minute and report back.

Here are some additional pics.

Looking down the stairs. The "column" is a closet above the lower set.

This is the left side in more detail. Door to room at a 45.

Below is behind the right side.

 

[SmokinEdge]

If I understand the bottom picture, the floor joist are running parallel to the the door framing, which means the door frame is not bearing, but not sure if I’m seeing it right.

 

[DRKsmoking]

Like said , I would remove the header drywall to see if Beam is in there , but it looks like you can remove the 2 side jacks ( studs ) and maybe fill back in with plywood to bring back out to flush for your new drywall. If you are not removing the top area. Are you? As there should be some kind of beam.

David

 

[sandyut]

Here are some stud finder pics. Seems like the middle pics is the load bearing cross member between the side weight bearing studs. But I dont know anything about home building...so take those terms with lots of salt.

Trying to avoid exploratory demo and get a feel for whats there before making the mess and getting all in.

Left side of the door oprning.

of the drywall above the door opening

The exposed stud in the jamb opening. Single stud.

 

[chopsaw]

lower level.

If it's a Ranch style house , and if that's a basement it should not be bearing .
Floor opening should be supported by a structural header in the floor system .

If that wall runs parallel to the floor joist it's not a bearing wall . looks to me like it does . Short side or front to back of the house .

 

[sandyut]

If it's a Ranch style house , and if that's a basement it should not be bearing .
Floor opening should be supported by a structural header in the floor system .

If that wall runs parallel to the floor joist it's not a bearing wall . looks to me like it does . Short side or front to back of the house .

I see your point now. Yes, the door is parallel to the floor joists. I guess its a ranch style, the lower level is a walk out since we are on a slope so I dont usually call it that, but its two floors of basically the same footprint with upper having a few cantalevers.

 

[JckDanls 07]

If it were me... I would remove a patch of drywall on the top right corner (right jamb in first picture) to see if the header board is sitting on just the door jamb or if it sitting on a stud in the main wall...
If the header is sitting on the door jamb then you would have to come up with a way to fasten the header to the main wall...

I feel like these were put there to fill the space so that the pre-hung door would drop in

I'm kinda thinking that too.... But would want to confirm it first...

 

[chopsaw]

Yes, the door is parallel to the floor joists.

Then it's not bearing .
The 2 far outside long walls of the stair opening are bearing the floor joist to support the opening . Intersect 90 degrees to the floor framing .
Since you have a split staircase that intermediate wall is supporting the stair stringers .
Mine a full run 1 flight . Looks like this .

You have cripples in yours because of the split flight , and a taller head , or maybe a 9 ' pour .

 

[dward51]

As I understand it you want to extend the stairway drywall to have a clean opening at the bottom the stairs. Just drywall out of the stairs and a clean drywall corner into that basement area. Correct?

I would not mess with those 2x4's, especially since they appear to be a double set, and it's right below the area where the stairs double back and terminate at the upper floor. The joist at that point may need extra support due to the stairs.

Why not just space out from those 2x4's so that fresh drywall fill in pieces are flush with the existing drywall, then finish and paint to match. Should look original if done that way (assuming I'm right about understanding what you want to do). Just my 2 cents, but messing with walls especially in a basement usually means load bearing stuff.

 

[chopsaw]

The 2 far outside long walls of the stair opening are bearing the floor joist to support the opening .

That's not a true statement , or didn't land as intended . They do control bounce , and help support stair stringers .
The floor framing is supported by footings , iron post and I beams . Floor joist are rated by size and span .
I only comment because I have 35 years as a structural Carpenter . Not trying to make a D-Bag statement , just assuring you I have knowledge of this .

 

[voyager 663rd]

As said in many different ways here, a load bearing wall is (well should be) is always running at 90o to the ceiling joists.

 

[Fueling Around]

After you posted all the important info.
Not load bearing and you can alter at will to clean up the removed door.
Speaking of clean up, I would remove that trip hazard threshold into the sun room. That makes no sense to me

 

[sandyut]

After you posted all the important info.
Not load bearing and you can alter at will to clean up the removed door.
Speaking of clean up, I would remove that trip hazard threshold into the sun room. That makes no sense to me

Thanks! Gonna get after it soon. I have to get it finished before we
Redo the stairs , remove the half wall etc

OMG the thresholds! One of the previous owners thought they were better than they were. 5 of those exist in the house!!! There are huge gaps in the flooring under them. Haven’t got to that fix yet.

 

[gmc2003]

There's only one way to really find out.


Chris