Hello, I am in the process of expanding my cabin and plan to create an opening in the exterior wall. Two windows are to be removed, and the idea is for the opening to be as high and wide as the windows and, of course, extend down to floor level. The windows are a total of 2.6 m wide and there is no stud between them, they are basically frame to frame. They open easily.
I haven't opened up and checked how thick the beam above the windows is (assuming there is one), but my assumption is that it should be relieving the windows. Or am I wrong?
My thesis is that the windows are not load-bearing, but I would like to take advantage of the excellent knowledge and experience of the byggahus-forum before I bring out the saw.
The house is from 1965 and is located in the Västerbotten coastal area. It has a shed roof and the dimensions are approximately 7x11 m. See images below, it's about the two windows closest in the picture.
There is likely a load-bearing beam or, for example, double joists above the windows that relieve so that the weight of the roof trusses does not get too high over the windows and pinch them.
If it exists, you can probably take the action you want regardless. If not, the roof on the inside is likely to show that it is sagging over the windows.
Is there a truss right over the middle? Then theoretically, if it was built incorrectly, a certain load could be taken there (when snow loads are high). But in 1965 they probably had a handle on things like that. I wouldn't hesitate to replace it with a double patio door (but would prefer to visit a few times when the snow settles on the roof and double-check if internal support would be needed during winter).
Thanks for the trial run, a stamp in winter time at the opening it will definitely be. The opening will actually lead into another room, the picture above is a few years old. Now it looks like this:
So I have to consider the new ceiling area as well, but it's not that large:
Sounds good! Place a support there during the winter (assuming it's cold then) and check occasionally if it seems to be loaded by easing it a bit (so you'll know for the next winter).
The window frames in the middle may be load-bearing if it was built in 1965. In our house built in 1966, all window frames are load-bearing studs. But it's quite simple to find out, remove the trim so you can see if the frame studs continue up to the ceiling and down to the floor.
Yes, I will check that. One thing I've learned as a happy amateur slightly obsessed with constructions is to never take anything for granted, especially if the house is also a few years old. Plan for the best, prepare for the worst as Churchill said, even if it was in a more serious context!
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