Hi - I'm trying to install French doors where there is currently a window. The stock doors are available at a very good price, but the required opening is 1" larger than the RO that I have. (The price to custom make these is like 4 times the amount.)

Question: Is it reasonable to rip the existing studs 1/2" each or is there any other way to do this? This is the 1st floor of a 2-story house.

I guess one way is to actually take apart the pre-hung setup and rip everything accordingly. I don't really want to do that.

Thanks

 

How were you going to rip the exitisting 2x4 down? While its nailed in the RO? - I wouldnt think so. Im summizing that youre planning on taking the 2x4's out then rip them. Instead of ripping them, why not just add a 1x4 on either side then shim the diff on the install of the doors! Just mo.

 

Hi jatco - You are right that I would remove studs to rip them and then put them back. That's not too hard, but I'm concerned about structual integrity.

I didn't really understand your suggestion. Were you saying to remove the studs all together and put in 1x4s instead? If so, my question is still the same. What's the minimum thickness for a stud in that situation?

Thanks

 

What you want to do is either get a door that will fit or get someone to reframe your RO for the new door. Cutting the existing studs is NOT a good plan. Those are holding the header which is carrying all the loads above it. Take one out and you might have things coming down that you hadn't planned on.

 

That may be true, but I guess it may depend on the studd arrangement. Looking at my RO (Im increasing my window RO from 35"H to 47" to accomodate a larger window, so Im dropping my sill)..and my king studd is running floor to ceiling plate with 2-2x4's abutting it..and 1-2x4 framing the window side....so my header is carried by 3-2x4's.
Assuming Rob's 2-2x4's are carrying the header as well as being part of the window RO, I was just suggesting that since 1 of the 2- 2x4's were going to be pulled to trim down, why not just use a 1x4 instead of ripping the 2x4. How wide a window is this...? If this is a standard window size, having one custom sized for 1" diff (on either side) could be costly...
My RO is about 8' wide.. If this is a standard window, say 36-42", I dont think a 1x4 instead of a 2x4, nailed to the other 2x4 would or could make a BIG difference in the supporting the header... Just MO...

 

Hi - I know how to support the header while taking out the studs. That part isn't a concern to me. I just don't know about the structural part of using less than a 2x4. I'm still not sure about it. I don't want to put in a new header.

I'm going to look closely at the stock pre-hung doors and see how hard it would be to cut them down. The difference in price is considerable for the custom door.

Thanks

 

Glad to hear that you know how to support the load while you do the work - lots of people never seem to understand that part.

Cutting away part of the jack stud(s) still isn't a good idea. It may be acceptable if you have multiple (2 or more) jack studs on each side, but you should ask your local building department about that. Some of the structural integrity of the house is based on the size of the header and the bearing surface area provided by the jack studs. Cutting away some of the jack stud bearing surface may (or may not) remove the safety margin for the loads it carries.

 

I believe that usually, the required RO allows for 1/2" clearance on each side. I think I will measure the door, and if this is true, I would be willing to rip an 1/8 or a 1/4 from each stud and just have less than 1/2" clearance on each side. I don't want to risk strucural integrity for $2k, but I am willing to put in a little extra work.

Thanks

 

Sorry 'bout my last post, mis-read that youre replacing a window with the franch doors. Cutting down stock doors may not be that difficult, but you'll also need to trim the door frame as well..(obviously). How wide a span is this? - Just curious.

 

No easy answers for altering rough openings. Keep in mind that everything has settled and shrunk, so measure carefully and 'make it a close fit' as necessary. Reducing one jack stud likely will not affect the structure. (You could insert a steel plate at the top?) Have you probed the header width?
Sometimes headers span a long distance and the jack stud is really a filler. But don't count on it. Check both sides. If all else fails, modifying the door is not all that hard, depending on the weather seal arrangement. Rework the hinge sides only. good luck, sounds like you have a handle on it all...mikeyh

 

Yea...right!! Lots of Fun..