Replies

1. 
   Davo_ | Jan 25, 2001 09:40am | #1

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   Jennings,

   You're not giving much info here. This "thing" in the attic; what's it look like and what is it attached to...the rafters, or the ceiling joists?

   Offhand, I'm thinking you should be OK to bump out your closet. If the header is running parallel with your ceiling joists, then all it could be supporting is one joist and the load above it. Load bearing walls usually have supports that run perpendicular (not parallel) to the ceiling joists, so as to support the entire load.

   If this "thing" is a 2X4 (or similar 2x) and is "L" shaped, and simply screwed down onto the top of each joist in your attic, this would be called a "strongback." These are used in trussed roofs a lot. It helps to keep the chords from sagging and twisting. Is your roof trussed? If this is the case ( a strongback), don't worry, go bump out your closet.

   If this "thing" is a 2X6 (or similar 2x) and spans across the top of your attic's "headroom" space; whereby it is attached to a rafter at each end, this would be a "collar tie." They are nailed at every other rafter section (or so) and their function is to help to keep a stick framed gable style roof from pulling outward toward the end walls. This collar tie has nothing to do with your closet header, so again, go ahead and do the work.

   If your "thing" is a 2x6 or 2x8 that runs perpendicular to the rafters and is nailed to the underside of the rafters at about the rafter's midpoint, and then every so often a vertical piece of 2x (called a "kicker")is attached to this beam and is also attached to the ceiling joist below it, then you have a purlin. Purlins are used to help support rafters from sagging; if the rafters are fairly long. And purlins are also sometimes used to help support the corners on a hip framed roof.

   The fact that you want to simply bump out your closet; whereby a new header for the doorway will be framed in front of the old header location, should really not matter much. I'm not aware of any situation where an interior closet was built as a load bearing support for the roof above it. Normally, closets support nothing. One way to be sure though, is to look at the room or basement directly below the closet and see whether there is a support post located there. ( $100 says you won't find one). If that closet was supporting a load, that load must travel directly below it and then be "picked up" by another support. No support below, nothing to worry about.

   Hope this helps. It's really hard to surmize without knowing more.

   Davo.

2. 
   Jennings_Easterbrook | Jan 25, 2001 09:40am | #2

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   My front load washer currently sits next to the TV in the living room. The kids are starting to get confused about what to watch. I want to bump out a closet to accommodate. Header for closet door opening runs parallel to ceiling joists, but there's something funny up in that part of the attic that makes it difficult to liberate the Christmas decorations year after year. Would/could someone walk someone such as I through the process of identifying whether or not that funny thing helps to hold up the roof? And, if it does... how to work around it.
   Fully aware of the fact that everybody needs to eat but caught in the cross fire of cash flow considerations with hopes to prove competent enough someday to repay your courtesies, C-
   Nota bene:Wearing the scarlet "H" for improprieties in another discussion--I'm pleading an excess of enthusiasm for this site, the personal failing of impatience, and occasional outbreaks of obdurate behavior.