Installing French Doors In Load Bearing Wall

Install the steel lintel above the door.

Installing french doors in load bearing wall.

Research the size of the standard wood members you d need for the opening per your code plus the number of jack. Inserting a door or window in a load bearing wall can be a tricky situation but not an impossible one. For part one you ll watch me demo do some light electrical work build a quick temporary wall install a load bearing header and install a pocket door. If the wall is load bearing you will have to construct a temporary wall to support weight before you can install the header.

P steel french doors are better equipped to resist break ins or similar damage to the structure. Wedge the beam into the opening then pack any gaps with masonry mortar. If it really is a load bearing wall a temporary support wall needs to be built first. This is an extra step that adds to the cost and it will probably have to be included in the plans you file to get the permit.

Nail in a new king stud top plate to bottom plate on the opposite side and install two jack studs as in the previous step to hold up the other end of the header. This will support the load while the wall is redone and headered off to put in the french doors. The beam will distribute the weight of the wall s load to either side of the door opening. The steel french door will need to be purchased pre painted or have adequate priming and curing to prevent the flaking of paint in the future aluminum offers similar benefits to steel with a reduced weight load and cost.

However if you know where to cut into the wall the project is quite. Remove the studs and frame in the header. The project includes assessing and taking out a section of a load bearing wall a pocket door building framing a wall installing double french doors and semi custom built ins. Interior aluminum french doors should not exceed 1 000 clad with wood.

The reason why this project is so difficult is due to the potential danger a load bearing wall supports the structure so its absence through accidental destruction could lead to the room or entire house collapsing. Measure across the opening to place the other king stud and jack studs the distance is equal to the length of the header.