Stud wall #3
Instead, it was time to ruminate on a structural problem: the landing for the stairs leading to the basement (directly behind the stud wall in the picture above) is supported by being hung from the floor joists above. A 2x4 "hanger" is nailed into the floor joist, and then into a beam supporting the landing. There are three such beams, one acting as a ledger board against the foundation wall. The problem is, in order to gain themselves that all-important inch of floor space, the geniuses that finished this basement decided they would cut into these supports to make room for the non-load bearing stud wall.
Seriously?!
What used to be a hanger
To compensate for their destruction of what's holding up our stairs, they have nailed the beam from which the stairs are hanging to a stud in their improperly-built-for-a-support-wall wall. It really makes me cringe when I see this. Good thing Mike Holmes isn't here, or he'd be removing the whole staircase, the kitchen, the plumbing, and probably most of the landscaping, so he could rebuild it and "make it right". In fairness to Mike, he would make the back of our house nigh unto indestructible, and it would likely still be standing centuries after the apocalypse.
But I digress...
To remediate the remedial basement finisher's boneheadedness, I will be constructing a new support for the stairs, that will augment what's left of the original supports by carrying the load down to the floor. I can't remove the existing stud wall until the new supports are in place without risking collapse of the stairs, so that's the next step.
This is the third, and hopefully final wtf moment of the reno. Geez.
Posts
3 comments:
The hanger system is okay for the landing, if the span between the hangers is less than 24". It looks like the lateral landing supports are 2X6, which is minimal. Adding a second lateral support on the other side of the hanger would be a way to compensate. Whatever you build to augment this "system" needs to prevent lateral sway of the landing. The stair stringers themselves provide load support, if they are at least 2X10. Are you building the new stud wall in the same place?
Mom
xox
Here's what I like best about this blog ... not only am I impressed by your construction know-how, Dave ... a chip off your Mom's block (making her proud, I'd say) but you use proper grammar in your descriptions (warms a librarian's heart). Lesley, leaving on July 1st and you can come if you can keep up (ha! ... not difficult) but I'd say you have your hands full ... hope to see you guys at camp ...
Hadn't thought of preventing lateral movement, but it makes sense since you mention it. I can't install new hangers, unfortunately, because they've actually trimmed the beam, and now it's too short for a hanger. My plan will support against lateral movement though with minor modifications.
Post a Comment