I have a wing on the second floor of the house that is open to the ridge, with a large impractical window section with triangular windows. We would like to replace these with something that can be opened, such as a French balcony with double doors centered in the middle of the gable.
I understand that a building permit is required for facade changes and have not gotten that far yet.
I now realize when I look at the current facade that it may be that the ridge beam for the trusses rests on a vertical stud in the middle between the windows. However, I can't find any construction drawings (the house was built in 2005).
Can anyone provide input on what I need to consider and how it is most likely built here?
1. Open to the ridge, no visible trusses, can I assume that the external wall/gable is load-bearing due to the vertical stud between the window section? Or is the whole thing supported by the side walls?
2. If I want to replace the gable windows with a centered double door, will it be enough to install a beam above the door section and a stud up to the ridge beam?
3. Are construction drawings/calculations, a structural engineer, and/or a responsible inspector required for something like this? If so, does it tend to become quite costly from a "simple window replacement"...
There must be a pillar that the beam rests on. There is a very large load on such a pillar, so it's not just about offsetting. The offsetting will need to be substantial. But it must also rest on something stable. Pillars down to the foundation may be needed, and in the worst case, reinforcement of the foundation.
There must be a pillar that the beam rests on. There is a very large load on such a pillar, so it's not just a matter of switching it out. Firstly, the distribution will need to be strong. But even that must rest on something stable. A pillar down to the foundation may be needed, and in the worst case, reinforcement of the foundation.
Suspected this. So maybe it's not just oversizing a laminated wooden beam over the window…
Is this a standard type of job for most carpentry firms, or should I expect to need a structural engineer and other hassles?
But you also need to transfer the forces down to the foundation. And the foundation must withstand the load where it is transferred down.
Now, I'm not a structural engineer, and we don't know the size of your roof. But it could be about 10 tons or more pressing on the post.
