Varga's 300 Gallon In-Wall Build!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JWarren]

Are you going to have a full stud on each side to nail it to?

[JoJo]

by it you mean the header? i believe he'll have 2 2x4 studs on each side of the tank, the ones closest to the tank will have another 2x4 from the floor to the top of the tank bolted to the other 2x4 this is the one the header will sit on. if those are too far way from the tank for framing, he can put another one of the same height closer to the tank so he can drywall up to the tank hole. i had to do the same thing

[JWarren]

Yep, it = header.

Well, it sounds like it is going to been done to code. Should have nothing to worry about, unless, you moved an electrical line. You'll be fine till you try to sell the house, if you did. Even though it's not a load bearing wall, any electrical movement is generally a no no without a permit. At least that's the way it is in my neck of the woods.

[Varga]

there is a big wire under the tank but I wont be touching it at all. I htink the whole thing should go fairly easily
first I have to move my other tank from the other side of the wall which wont be fun but I'll have time to do that while the new tank is being water tested in the back yard.

[JWarren]

Sounds like a plan to me!

[Varga]

I talked to one of my guys who thinks this maybe a load bearing wall!!! I'm gonna get him in the attic tomorrow to make sure, he thinks we need a enormous header or we can get a metal beam but I think my cost may have just gone up

this is one of 4 walls in a really big family room. I'm guessing 30 x 18 and the beams run perpendicular to this wall.

[JWarren]

You deffinatly don't want to start cutting studs without getting some support under the trusses if that is the case. How many studs are at the end of the wall, towards the center of the house? Got a decent stud finder?

[Varga]

tward the center of the house, on the right side of the wall Im tearing down, theres only 2 studs. I will be removing all but the corner studs on this wall.

This just in; I have a truss roof and if google serves me well, homes with truss roofs have NO load bearing walls. is this true?
this is exactly what I see in the attic:

[JWarren]

Here's a few tips on determining if you are dealing with a load bearing wall:

Look at the structure of the house and ask the following questions:

Is there a significant load above, such a built-up (multi-board) carrying beam or another wall? Is there a full floor above it, or just an empty attic?

If you can view the joists in the attic, is the wall parallel or perpendicular to them? Generally, load bearing walls are perpendicular to the joists they support. If two separate floor joists or ceiling joists intersect over a wall, that wall should be considered load bearing.

Is it an outside wall? You should consider all outside walls load bearing. If the house has been remodeled, a former outside wall could now be an inside wall. Examine the foundation to find these "stealth" outside walls.

Look at the beams and posts in the basement. In multi-floor dwellings, posts and beams in the basement indicate bearing walls above them, even up two floors. Be aware that these multi-floor bearing walls may not be directly above each other.

In complex, large homes, the basement can be a jungle of carrying beams and posts, crisscrossed and interlocked. Careful inspection is necessary to determine how this maze of beams supports the house, and its effect on the walls above.

[JWarren]

What's above the studs currently? One 2x4 or something bigger?

I'm not familiar with the codes of your state, ask one of your GC friends how many 2x4's are requiered at the end of an inside, load bearing wall. That should give some indication as well.

[Varga]

Thanks John.

I am 99% sure this is not a load bearing wall. I have trussed, very little space in the attic, they are made of 2x4's. no rafters up there at all.

[JoJo]

doesnt sound like a load bearing to me. if there's only a 2x4 being supported by other 2x4 studs 16" apart or so, its a standard inside wall. when you look in the attic around the location of that wall is there a joint of the ceiling or 2x6 studs running to the trusses?

[JWarren]

Well, one sure way to know is if you start cutting those studs and your saw blade binds like heck, you know it's got weight bearing down on it and you will have to put in a heavy duty header.

[Varga]

Originally Posted by JoJo

doesnt sound like a load bearing to me. if there's only a 2x4 being supported by other 2x4 studs 16" apart or so, its a standard inside wall. when you look in the attic around the location of that wall is there a joint of the ceiling or 2x6 studs running to the trusses?

nope, all I see are 2x4 trusses up there but i'll go up again with bigger lights to take a closer look. even if it is a bearing wall, putting 3 4x4's wont be that bad

[Craig Manoukian]

Awesome progress!