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Discussion Forum

Oh, that $#%@ load-bearing wall…

diylaura | Posted in General Discussion on May 2, 2009 04:34am

Hi all, let me just say that I’m amazed at the conversations that have spun out of my question about the “load-bearing wall” way back when!:)  I guess ’cause 1.)  I’m of the female persuasion and 2.)  Contrary to most of you, I’m a nurse, damnit, not a builder!:)  Seriously, I have learned a ton by reading all of your posts…mostly I have learned that this is not a simple undertaking, gonna take my time to find the right people to help.

In the meantime, keep posting and I’m gonna post some “before” pics…as soon as I figure out how to upload them…nooo, not really:)

Laura D.

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Replies

  1. john7g | May 02, 2009 04:39pm | #1

    >I'm a nurse, damnit, not a builder<

    what about magician? :)

    Keep us posted, you will always get an opinion. 

    1. diylaura | May 02, 2009 04:44pm | #2

      OH, I surely made those cookies disappear a minute ago...

      keep ya posted:)

      Laura

  2. User avater
    BossHog | May 02, 2009 06:11pm | #3

    Don't let it bother you. Ya never know what's gonna strike a chord around here and cause a thread to take off.

    I do hope you'll post pics as you go along. We all like to see how things are progressing, and you'll certainly get a lot of useful advice.

    Of course - Some of the advice will be conflicting, and interspersed with a lot of BS and petty arguments.

    (-:

  3. Jer | May 02, 2009 07:39pm | #4

    Along the lines of what Boss said, if you post, there will always be somebody with an opinion. One never knows though what makes a certain thread topic take off. There are some threads I have started that I thought would have folks lined up around the block to answer but 4 or 5 posts later the thread is gone & forgotten. Whatever.

  4. Biff_Loman | May 02, 2009 11:04pm | #5

    As for myself, I'm still not entirely sure what you were asking. It seems as if you were asking whether you could DIY:

    1. Replacing bearing wall with beam
    2. Installing cabinets, flooring and other non-structural stuff
    3. Both of the above

    With respect to #1: You should look at what an engineer specifies, then make the call as to whether you're up to it. Depending on your situation, it could be not overly complicated, or a serious challenge.

    Regarding #2, well - That's kind of a relationship between your skills and your desired outcome, and how much is your spare time worth to you? If these are things way outside your existing skillset, it might take forever just to achieve mediocre results. Or it could be fun. Kinda depends.

    1. User avater
      IMERC | May 03, 2009 06:44am | #10

      point her to the truck washing thread....

      that should make her feel better.... 

      Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

      WOW!!! What a Ride!

      Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

       

      "Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"

      1. Biff_Loman | May 03, 2009 09:44pm | #13

        I definitely have an identity on this forum, now.

        1. WorkshopJon | May 03, 2009 09:49pm | #14

           

          "I definitely have an identity on this forum, now."

          Biff,

          And that would be?

          WSJ

          1. DonCanDo | May 03, 2009 09:58pm | #15

            He's the guy would rather not have washed his employer's truck on his own time until seemingly everyone told him he was being petty about it and should go the extra distance to reflect positively upon his employer and upon himself and besides having a company truck was a perk that he should show his gratitude for by keeping it clean even though it wasn't readily available for his personal use and then changed his mind and decided that it was a pretty small thing to ask after all and so proceed to keep the truck clean and posted here all about it and retained his composure while everyone argued about all sides of the issue.

            ... that identity.

            How'd I do, Biff?

          2. WorkshopJon | May 03, 2009 10:22pm | #16

            Biff,

            I think you did the right thing....For now.

            A good employer will go the extra mile for you, as you should for him.  He might even suggest you marry his daughter some day.  A bad on will bitch and moan all day about how you don't work hard enough, even though you are doing your best.

            Hope it works out,

            WSJ

          3. Biff_Loman | May 03, 2009 10:25pm | #18

            I'm already married, although I went to high school with the boss' daughter and thought she was cute at the time. I guess she still is, but she's married too. I'll try and keep my chin up. ;-)

          4. User avater
            Sphere | May 03, 2009 10:28pm | #19

            she's married too?

            Well, hell, ya already have something in common, tag it!Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

            Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

            "If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt

            View Image

          5. Biff_Loman | May 03, 2009 10:22pm | #17

            That pretty much sums it up. :-)

          6. Piffin | May 04, 2009 07:01pm | #22

            I never read that thread, but wondered how it got so long!Kind like Eric and his buried junction box?I never read that one either. 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          7. DonCanDo | May 05, 2009 12:25am | #23

            I never read that thread...

            And now you don't have to :-)

  5. User avater
    Dinosaur | May 03, 2009 01:36am | #6

     I'm a nurse, damnit, not a builder!:) 

    Brings back memories of Dr. McCoy hollering at Capt. Kirk....

    Dinosaur

    How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not brought
    low by this? For thine evil pales before that which
    foolish men call Justice....

    1. diylaura | May 04, 2009 05:13pm | #20

      Yes, that's exactly what I was thinkin'!:)  Now I'm no Trekkie, but I spent a fair amount of time parked in front of a 13" b&w tv watching Star Trek:)...and the Flintsones...and the Brady Bunch.  So, clearly I'm over 30, as I'm hoping everybody else is!:)  Not that there's anything wrong with being under 30...actually, when I think about it, I'd luv to know what I know now and...oh...that's been said before...nevermind;)

      LD

  6. Snort | May 03, 2009 04:14am | #7

    I'm a nurse, damnit, not a builder!:)

    So you should be used to a bunch of vastly superior professionals giving you bs orders<G>

    http://www.tvwsolar.com

    Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill

    I would set him in chains at the top of the hill

    Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille

    He could die happily ever after"

    1. User avater
      xxPaulCPxx | May 03, 2009 04:44am | #8

      More like THINK they know more...

      ... everyone knows the ship goes down without nurses keeping those dippy doctors out of trouble.

      Tu stultus esRebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!

      Look, just send me to my drawer.  This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.

      1. Snort | May 03, 2009 04:51am | #9

        <.. everyone knows the ship goes down without nurses keeping those dippy doctors out of trouble.>the way my nursie in-laws tell it, the ones with the horny snakes on their lapels don't know<G>http://www.tvwsolar.com

        Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill

        I would set him in chains at the top of the hill

        Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille

        He could die happily ever after"

    2. diylaura | May 03, 2009 04:23pm | #12

      I know that's right;)

      LD

  7. darrel | May 03, 2009 07:23am | #11

    I am not a builder either, but will say that the builders in these forums are some very generous folks who always give plenty of great advice (if maybe they disagree at times ;o)

  8. User avater
    PeteDraganic | May 04, 2009 05:22pm | #21

    Well, at least you learned how well we always get along! lol

    Where do you live?

     

    I refuse to accept that there are limitations to what we can accomplish.        Pete Draganic

     

    Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day.          Matt Garcia

    1. User avater
      Dinosaur | May 05, 2009 02:29am | #24

      From: 

      PeteDraganic <!----><!----> 

      10:22 am 

      To: 

      diylaura <!----><!---->

       

       

       

      Where do you live?

      Hey! You're married too!

       

      Laura, he's got at least three or four kids. (I lose track they move around so fast.) I've only got one.

      And I'm extremely divorced....

       

       

       

       

       

      Dinosaur

      How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....

      1. diylaura | May 05, 2009 03:43am | #25

        Hey there, I live about 5 miles outside of Detroit...and contrary to what youv'e heard, not everybody's out of work up here:)

         

        so anyway, I'm on vacation this week and since I work midnites, that means I up and ready to go by 6am every day.  I know, it seems like I should be sleeping in but I really hate to sleep in:)

        I'm posting the pics of that darn wall soon...gonna take em' tomorrow.

        LD

        1. User avater
          Dinosaur | May 05, 2009 03:58am | #26

          We'll be waiting.

          Dinosaur

          How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....

        2. User avater
          PeteDraganic | May 05, 2009 04:32am | #27

          I am almost close enough in the Cleveland area to have a look at it. Calvin is in Toledo and maybe he would be interested in a consult.

          <!----><!----><!----> 

          I refuse to accept that there are limitations to what we can accomplish.        Pete Draganic

           

          Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day.          Matt Garcia

          1. diylaura | May 05, 2009 07:32pm | #28

            Hey there, here are a few pictures of "the wall", and some outside shots. This house was a foreclosure sale, although the inspection didn't reveal any surprises and the interior was in good shape, i.e., no holes in walls, no missing fixtures, beautiful white wooden shades on every window. In this area, all of the houses were built in the early forties, and they were all originally approx. 700sq. ft.  One small galley kitchen, one small "front room", 2 bedrm, 1 bath, on a slab.  Of course, nearly everyone has added on, either up, sideways, or back. So my house looks small from the front, but the addition in the back is a big "family room", master bedrm and 2nd full bath. Plus, the lot is 185' deep. BIG backyard with a BIG tree growing up through the back deck :-)

            Ok, I've bored you with that...take a look at "that #$^% load-bearing wall...and note the cute doggies...

            LD

            p.s. that newly built bookcase is a casualty

            ps.s. next time, I'll upload the proposed new kitchen/dining design (done by a PROfessional, no less: ).

          2. JAlden | May 05, 2009 07:43pm | #29

            "ps.s. next time, I'll upload the proposed new kitchen/dining design"That will help. The beam that replaces the current wall has to go somewhere. Either below the ceiling or up in the attic. That depends on the new kitchen design.Is there a basement?And one of your dogs hid her face.

          3. User avater
            Dinosaur | May 05, 2009 11:39pm | #30

            Laura--

            Your photos are 'way too big for us poor dial-uppers to download. Can you resize them and upload smaller versions--say no bigger than 50-100kb each?

            thanx

            Dinosaur

            How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....

          4. diylaura | May 06, 2009 05:48pm | #34

            Geez, I didn't even think of that!!! Sorry:)

            Will do..

            LD

          5. User avater
            Dinosaur | May 06, 2009 07:01pm | #36

            Geez, I didn't even think of that!!! Sorry:)

            Not a real problem; you hadn't pasted the megabyte-sized pics into the frame itself (which would have caused the thread to take at least half an hour to load) and there are always a few public-spirited ex-dialuppers now on lightspeed who graciously shrink pix....

            (Thanks, Zeeya.)

             

            On the subject of pouring post footings under the slab which someone else addressed:

            It's not that big a deal, actually. Rent a concrete wet-saw, score a 24"x24" box 1½" deep into the slab, and then score center lines vertically and horizontally, and from corner to corner of that box, too. (Oh yeah; disconnect--or yank the batteries out of--any smoke alarms in the house before you do this!)

            Now take a 16lb sledge hammer and smack the snot outta the pie-slices. If they don't break free, score a little deeper then try again. Usually you don't have to cut all the way through unless you care about how neat the edges of the hole will be. Saves time and gasoline....

            Now dig down a foot making a nice square hole. Disturb the earth/gravel at the bottom of the hole as little as possible. Get out yer wheelbarrow and a spade and mix up 4 cubic feet of concrete (that'll be about twelve 30kg bags of pre-mix). Pour it into the hole. Float the surface smooth and fair it into the slab.

            Wait a week before you put any load on it, and use a couple of 12" pieces of 2x12 joist scrap as a pad under the bottom of the post.

             

            Oh, yeah: Don't forget to scribe yer initials and handprints or whatever into the fresh concrete for posterity....

            Dinosaur

            How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....

          6. diylaura | May 06, 2009 11:34pm | #37

            ZEEYA, can you help??  Didn't "right-size" the drawings...not sure how right now...

            So the people who drew up the new kitchen designs sent me a few, and I think plan #3a works the best...I uploaded plan 1a,b,c  and 2a,b,c,d  and finally, my rendition of the existing layout...yikes...plan 2a,b,c,d requires no movement of the sink,  and opens up the area...and for my next trick, I'll send a face pic of me and one of the dogs...ok, no comments please...;)

            Yunno, reading the above email gave me a headache...to clarify, kitchen 2 seems best.

            LD

          7. User avater
            Dinosaur | May 06, 2009 11:59pm | #38

            You need to re-save the image in a smaller format using your photo-editing program.

            Most scanner-printers come with software that includes an editing program capable of doing that; if you don't have one, you can download something called 'Irfanview' from the internet for free. Lots of guys on BT use that.

            Basically, you need to open the original image file, then modify it using the controls in your photo-editor. A full-sized photo from a basic 3- or 5-mpx camera will be about 2500 x 2000 pixels and well over 1.5 meg, but if you shrink it down to 450 x 337 pixels the file size will drop from 2 meg down to about 400kb. That's still too large, tho....

            To get the file size down under 100kb, you reduce the quality settings to save the new image at 'high' (150dpi) or 'moderate' (100dpi). The default setting on most editors is 'maximum' (300 dpi).

            IMPORTANT: When you are ready to save the modified image, click SAVE AS (not 'save') and then give the image a new file name so you don't overwrite the original image file when you save the new version. Usually, I just add 'v2' (for 'version 2') to the end of the original file name.

            Dinosaur

            How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....

          8. User avater
            IMERC | May 07, 2009 01:33am | #39

            http://www.irfanview.com

            and the how to....

            http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=24441.1

             

            Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

            WOW!!! What a Ride!

            Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

             

            "Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"

            Edited 5/6/2009 6:34 pm by IMERC

          9. ZEEYA | May 07, 2009 01:54am | #40

            Laura

             Where did you upload images of drawings to your computer or here at BT

            I can help size drawings but I need some info

            Do you have a scanner

            did you use a digital camera to upload from

            what software are you using to edit photos or documents

            How big are originals

            You can e mail me off line if you want with info at [email protected]

            and I will try to help you or just post at breaktime but you will get many different ways to do it they are all good but just like the advice but different ways to achieve the same end I leave it to you to decide

            also the suggestion to use Ifranview is a good one to edit here's the link for the free download

            http://download.cnet.com/IrfanView/3000-2192_4-10021962.html

            View Image

            Edited 5/6/2009 6:57 pm ET by ZEEYA

          10. plantlust | May 06, 2009 01:38am | #31

            185' deep!?!?  Be still my heartok But how wide is the lot?

            Plantlust - hoping that the ranks of acreage owners hasnt increased

            Nothing like a little Jaegermeister on the tongue to elicit a reaction from someone on the brink of death.

          11. ZEEYA | May 06, 2009 04:01am | #32

            DIY Laura

            Here are your pics resized. Aso how about dimensions from the plans the design/builder gave you

            Zeeya

            View ImageView Image

            View ImageView Image

             

             

            View Image

            Edited 5/5/2009 9:15 pm ET by ZEEYA

            Edited 5/5/2009 9:18 pm ET by ZEEYA

          12. diylaura | May 06, 2009 05:53pm | #35

            Thanx ZEEYA!! Any new pics will be right-sized from now on...oh, I really hate that term...sounds sooo corporate...

            LD

          13. wrudiger | May 06, 2009 06:05am | #33

            Ah, now we are getting somewhere!  "... on slab..."  Certainly not an expert here, but I do know that if you replace the wall with a beam and posts you will need to deal with the point loads from the posts.  The slab will not be up to the task by itself.  Most likely will include sawing a hole in the slab, digging & pouring a properly sized pads for the posts.  One word: engineer!

            Now, that brings up the other aspect of slabs - plumbing (gas & water are typically under the slab and drain definately is).  So unless you want everything to stay where it is now plan on having the concrete saw team prep for the new plumbing at the same time.

            I've built a few houses (years ago now!) and just built & installed all the cabinets in our new kitchen.  I'd hire out structual and plumbing on your project!

            Beyond that it's all a mater of comfort with tools, patience, willingness to tear out & re-do (mistakes are a given - one difference between dyi & pro is how quickly and cleanly the mistake is fixed).  It will go slower than you can possibly imagine and will be remarkably frustrating at times.  And in the end will be an incredibly rewarding experience (give it a few months after you're done!).

            Which brings up a critical question - where is your temporary kitchen going to be? 

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