I am replacing windows in the daylight basement of an older home. There are no headers over the existing windows. The first floor floor joists sit directly on the top plate of the basement knee wall. The distant between the foundation stem wall and the top plate of the knee wall is too tight to place an appropriate sized header (2×6) so I am wondering if anyone has used steel in situations like this? If so, please let me know.
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Replies
What is the span of the opening?
Typically, the rim joist is doubled up over these openings effectively becoming a header. Even if it is only a single, it may carry the load of 2 or 3 floor joists, provided there are no point loads directly above.
Eric
oh.........and welcome to Break Time.............fasten your seat belt please!
I Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
Edited 10/9/2004 4:13 pm ET by firebird
How very interesting. Second post is correct. The rim joist can become a beam by design in a situation like this. I asked a similar question earlier in the week, and just this morning helped heft a steel header into place. Went pretty good, and certainly isn't going anywhere now.
"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." - Mark Twain
What is the rough opening?
If you cut one or both of the top plates out of the way will you have enough for your 2x6 header?
Joe Carola