Building and Construction - load bearing? stair framing

Author

load bearing? stair framing

che10234@hotmail.com

2006-05-15, 12:21 pm

Hi, I'd like to remove a couple of studs that are just beneath the
basement stairs. From my limited knowledge they don't seem to be load
bearing since they aren't doubled at the top, they are not parallel to
the beams and they ARE parallel to the joists. Also, it doesn't even
look like the stairs are attached to these studs in any way. So why
would the builder install them?

My question is, can I remove them? Or are they load bearing?

Here are some pics, I've but red spots on one of the studs in question.

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/140/load17wr.jpg
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/8152/load21eg.jpg

(note, there is a framed wall just behind the stud, it looks like the
stud is part of this wall but it isn't.)

Thanks!
Chris

Bob Morrison

2006-05-15, 1:21 pm

In a previous post che10234@hotmail.com wrote...
> My question is, can I remove them? Or are they load bearing?
>
> Here are some pics, I've but red spots on one of the studs in question.
>
The close-up picture seems to show a joist hanger for the header at the
top of the stair and some double joists (or something) sitting on top of
the wall. What's that all about??

--
Bob Morrison, PE, SE
R L Morrison Engineering Co
Structural & Civil Engineering
Poulsbo WA
bob at rlmorrisonengr dot com

che10234@hotmail.com

2006-05-15, 3:21 pm

Bob Morrison wrote:
> In a previous post che10234@hotmail.com wrote...
> The close-up picture seems to show a joist hanger for the header at the
> top of the stair and some double joists (or something) sitting on top of
> the wall. What's that all about??
>
> --
> Bob Morrison, PE, SE
> R L Morrison Engineering Co
> Structural & Civil Engineering
> Poulsbo WA
> bob at rlmorrisonengr dot com

It looks to me like the first part of the stairs (going to the landing)
are supported by these two 2x4's, that are themselves attached to the
ceiling joists with hangers. The studs I want to remove are not
attached to the stairs in any way. Even the headers above these studs
are not attached to the stairs. The landing is well supported by other
framing, that I would not remove.

Here are some more pictures to help.
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4305/load37pc.jpg
http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/3749/load45px.jpg
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/9775/load52cw.jpg

Thank you very much for your help!
Chris

JerryD\(upstateNY\)

2006-05-15, 10:21 pm

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/9775/load52cw.jpg

In this picture over to the left there is a joist hanger holding a joist.
(call it joist A)
If this joist (A) is being held up by the one it is nailed to (joist B) and
Joist B ends just past joist "A", you need that 2X4 to hold it up because
there is nothing else there to hold it up.
--
JerryD(upstateNY)

che10234@hotmail.com

2006-05-16, 6:21 pm

JerryD(upstateNY) wrote:
> http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/9775/load52cw.jpg
>
> In this picture over to the left there is a joist hanger holding a joist.
> (call it joist A)
> If this joist (A) is being held up by the one it is nailed to (joist B) and
> Joist B ends just past joist "A", you need that 2X4 to hold it up because
> there is nothing else there to hold it up.
> --
> JerryD(upstateNY)

Hi Jerry,

Thanks for the reply and you're absolutely correct. In fact I'm an
idiot for not having seen it earlier, the stairs actually turn inward
towards those joists so of course they don't span accross to the other
house beam. Oh well, I guess I'll have to keep that framing and drywall
around it.

Thanks everyone.

Bob Morrison

2006-05-17, 12:21 pm

In a previous post "JerryD\(upstateNY\)" <jerry@righthere.com> wrote...
> In this picture over to the left there is a joist hanger holding a joist.
> (call it joist A)
> If this joist (A) is being held up by the one it is nailed to (joist B) and
> Joist B ends just past joist "A", you need that 2X4 to hold it up because
> there is nothing else there to hold it up
>

Jerry:

That was kind of my thinking too. That the 2x4 is doing something. I
just didn't have time too think it completely through.

--
Bob Morrison, PE, SE
R L Morrison Engineering Co
Structural & Civil Engineering
Poulsbo WA
bob at rlmorrisonengr dot com

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