Hey everyone! I'm working on a living room makeover and planning to install an electric fireplace that measures about 5" in depth. To make it fit, I'll need to cut through 2 or maybe 3 wall studs. The wall used to be an exterior wall but has since been enclosed due to an addition. I also plan to frame a box for support around the cut studs. My main question is, with cutting about a 14" section out of the wall, what kind of temporary support should I use for the studs while I'm building the frame? Thanks for your help!
2 Answers
Since this wall used to be an exterior wall, it’s likely load-bearing. Like the previous commenter mentioned, you'll need temporary supports. Are your ceiling joists or rafters resting on this wall, and was it originally a gable end? When framing the opening, use a double 2x6 header with one jack and one king stud on each side. That setup should do the trick!
First, you need to determine if this wall is structural. If it is, you should build a temporary wall about 2 feet away from it to help redirect the load onto your floor system. Then, you'll want to install a properly sized header with jack studs to support the remaining wall structure. After that, you can proceed with your box framing.
It's actually a gable end! Does that complicate things? I'm also facing a challenge since I’m working in a large walk-in closet that's behind where the fireplace will go, and I won't have full access to the headers without tearing down the ceiling there. Thanks for the tips!