Strucural engineering house question:

[kevabar]

Quick question, non-beer (I ask here because there is a wealth of knowledge which is well rounded):

I have some studs and a top plate to replace at my shore house. The section is in the back corner of the house: from the corner in about 8-10 feet on one wall. This is a 2 story building with an apartment on the 2nd floor. It has a flat roof sloping to the back of the building, which is 22' by 22' and has a concrete footer with a concrete slab. This section of wall sits behind the kitchen sink on the back wall which suffered water damage over a number of years. I need to replace 6 to 8 feet of the top plate which has mild rot (i can poke holes in it). I want to also replace the studs in that area as well ro remove the mold.

Do i need to install temporary bracing? ie: a temp stud wall? If so, do i need to replicate this temp wall downstairs as well? If needed, the temp stud support wall would be placed about 3 feet back and parallel to the section being removed. (I do not know whish direction the ceiling rafters run: I assume the same direction as the floor which is parallel to the wall i'm replacing.)

Thoughs? thanks all! I really appreciate it!

 

[purechaos]

it really depends on how it is framed, if it is a load bearing wall and the joists break(join, imagine a 16ft joist shooting from each side) at the wall you are removing then you will need to brace both sides. if it is not a load bearing wall then you dont need to brace it. you should remove the drywall and investigate it before coming up with a plan.

edited to note

if you dont know what you are doing, you should really consult someone with experience, construction is serious business, and people can get hurt

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090510/NEWS/905100366

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Sounds like a second floor exterior wall, right?

I'd brace the roof and the floor between first. No telling what you gonna find once you start pulling wood and open things up.

 

[jgln]

Quick question, non-beer (I ask here because there is a wealth of knowledge which is well rounded):

I have some studs and a top plate to replace at my shore house. The section is in the back corner of the house: from the corner in about 8-10 feet on one wall. This is a 2 story building with an apartment on the 2nd floor. It has a flat roof sloping to the back of the building, which is 22' by 22' and has a concrete footer with a concrete slab. This section of wall sits behind the kitchen sink on the back wall which suffered water damage over a number of years. I need to replace 6 to 8 feet of the top plate which has mild rot (i can poke holes in it). I want to also replace the studs in that area as well ro remove the mold.

Do i need to install temporary bracing? ie: a temp stud wall? If so, do i need to replicate this temp wall downstairs as well? If needed, the temp stud support wall would be placed about 3 feet back and parallel to the section being removed. (I do not know whish direction the ceiling rafters run: I assume the same direction as the floor which is parallel to the wall i'm replacing.)

Thoughs? thanks all! I really appreciate it!

Are you at the Jersey shore? I have a place in North Wildwood.

 

[menschmaschine]

I'm not an engineer, but I am a consultant based in Rehoboth Beach that deals specifically with these types of situations (mold/water intrusion repairs). It's difficult to tell if you need bracing without some pics. If you do, there are ways to do it without getting crazy. You can PM me if you like, but I may not be able to respond until this evening or tomorrow.

 

[kevabar]

Thank you for your replies. Yes I am in N WW. i have decided to construct temp supprt walls just in case. i spoke to a coworker here who was in structural engineering for years and we came up with a plan. Better safe than sorry. It will only add an extra hour to my work. thanks again! as always, I gained more knowlegde from this site. you guys and gals are awesome!