Shaving cripple studs

Need some advice,
I have a 20 year old patio door that needs to be replaced. Rough width is 70" between the studs. I have been working with a major contractor/builder in the central Iowa area. He suggests shaving each of the cripple studs by 3/4" to gain enough space to insert a standard 6ft door - rather than incur the considerable expense of a custom made door.
Is this a legitimate thing to do? I have 2 2x4's on either side of the door frame. I don't want to agree to this and end up with a catastrophic episode in the future. That would leave the header resting on less than 1 inch of cripple stud each. I assume the header is nailed to the taller stud next to it.

One pane of the stationary panel has shattered (other has condensation) so I need to make a decision soon.
Thanks.

 

In my opinion, it's easier to remove the trimmer and replace it with a 1x4. You'll have a much straighter rough opening to shim & seal the door to. Replacing or cutting the trimmer isn't an ideal situation, but I think your contractor has it right.

 

Does seems to make more sense to replace them that way, thanks.

Got some additional information, though. I cut away a section of the drywall behind the baseboard to verify the studs and there are 2 2x4's on the left side and only 1 on the right. I imagine this was an amateur install done years ago. This would render the shave impossible. I wonder if having a contractor open the wall and frame the door correctly to a standard 6ft opening wouldn't be the best way to go. Seems like that option or putting a custom fit 70" door in a frame that isn't structurally sound are about the same in $$.

 

2 on one side and one on the other??? Very unusual. Although it could be that your header extends beyond the single 2x4 on the one side, which would be good news. You might go out and purchase a $10 studfinder and 9V battery, and try to detect the header length with that. But your analysis is correct. If its not framed properly, you're better off fixing the framing and putting in the standard sized door.

 

Yeah weird, given the 2 and 1 combo - I wouldn't even want to speculate about what's in the header. Would be consistant with other repairs and mods done by prior owners - house is 1955 1.5 story, door certainly not original. If there are 2 studs - they aren't near each other. I cut away about 2-3 inches of drywall behind the molding, 1 stud and as far as I can stick a screwdriver in the hole (6 - 8 inches) - nothing.
Been meaing to get a stud finder anyway - thanks for the advice. I hope the header extends, but I wouldn't be surprised if there is nothing more than a 2x4 up there.

 

Hi, Sounds like you will have to do some sheet rock repair anyway. Why not open the wall and see what you have? Not much harder to repair a big patch than a little patch.
I also a think a patio door comes in a standard 60 inch size. You may want to consider that. Easier to make a hole smaller than bigger.
Good Luck Woodbutcher