replacing single window with french door

hello, this is my first post/question. i've used the search & somewhat got my questions answerd but not completely, so here goes.

i am wanting to replace a single window with a double french door.

i now that i will need to build a header for the door(s) & frame the opening. my ?'s are;

1) how do i go about this?
2) this is obviously an exterior wall so will i need to support the roof/ceiling while i frame the opening?

thanks in advance for the help.

 

Whats over the wall you want to cut into ? If a roof only, does the roof come down on that wall...is it bearing the weight of the roof ? or is it a gable end and the roof pitches off in the 90 degree opposite direction ?

What type of exterior siding do you have?

Is there an electrical outlet under or near the current window ?

Look at the roof outside......see any plumbing vents near where you're gonna be cutting ?

What is your level of skill.....done stuff like this before ?

What tools do you have access to ?

and any other pertinent info you can think of to add will help get you a better answer...

 

1) thanks for the reply.

2) yes, it is a load bearing wall, not a gable end. about 1/3 of the
wall will be removed for the doors.

3) yes, an outlet will need to be moved. not a problem.

4) no plumbing vents.

5) my skill is actually finish carpentry (8 yrs) untill about a year
ago when i changed jobs. i've done little framing. mostly
new home & decks.

6) i've access to any tool needed.

oh yeah, the siding will be replaced with vinyl or hardy plank. it's not currantly brick.

 

This outa be a pc of cake for you.....

You'll need about a 74" wide rough opening, so you will be opening up about 8' of wall, or less, depending on how the current layout of the studs are and how you want to center the new door in the wall..

IF it was me, I probably wouldn't worry to much about supporting the ceiling for the time it takes to do this......unless you have an unusual amount of roof weight, the other rafters and roof sheathing should hold everything in place for the length of time you need to get a new header in under it....the double top plate on the wall will also help that.....So >I< would take off enought siding outside to get to the sheathing, and then cut out enough sheathing to access the studs to the point needed for the RO.....the inside finish wall I'd only cut from outside with a sawsall to the opening needed for the door, since patching the sheathing outside will be a lot easier than patching the sheetrock inside....
Build the header and install from the outside and run you new jack and cripple studs to it, then cut the sheetrock in the door RO, and install the door....guess I don't need to tell ya the trim work, huh

Even IF you do figure you need the ceiling needs support, I would just wrap a 2x4xabout8' with some scrap carpet to protect the ceiling finish, and stick a couple of 2x4 props under it.....but that is probably overkill.

 

thanks alot Tn....Andy!

i figured that it wouldn't be very tough, i just wanted to confirm my thoughts on the whole thing,,,,,,,and you did!

i felt sorta goofy asking this question because of my background but i never really paid much attention to framing the whole time i was in construction. (dumb on my part i guess)

anyway, thanks again for the info/help.
great forum here.