Stiffening a Halfwall #framing #buildingconstruction #framinglife

Stiffening up a half wall the easy way. Drop a 4x4 down to the lower wall. There is ZERO structural penalty for cutting out a 3.5" piece of this LVL. It has many feet of bearing either side and does not need to be continous. The @strongtie 8" SDWS Timber Screws help to stiffen it up, as well as the toe screwed double stud at the end. Don't make this stuff harder than it needs to be @MakitaToolsUSA XGT 10.25" saw is a top 5 tool of all time for me. #framer #huberpartner #framing #makitatools #stabilalevels #beatruepro

[jakegodwin]

Yea structural engineer here. Builders don’t buy expensive LVL beams just because. And just because it has a wall below doesn’t mean that wall has bearing in the foundation below.

[adamcramm]

For the love of God. Never cut out a lvl beam just because there’s a wall under it. The weight is transferred to the ends of the beam where there are point loads and footings to support the weight of the floor. The wall underneath the beam may not be on footings. Now the weight is being transferred to your concrete slab rather than footings.

[Spike-kxib]

As a Building Inspector I would red tag you. You cannot cut the IT MUST GO FROM WALL TO WALL OR Column to column DOWN TO THE FOOTING. THAT Adjustable post does not pass as a column or a structural member😅

[charliechristian]

Did everyone else just watch this guy cut thru a 2 ply 11.875 beam to run a thru-stud for a half wall……

[joshuahepler]

"more stiffness once drywall is attached" ahh yes, good ol' structural drywall

[kirk]

I think that LVL cut needs an engineering letter now!

[superspeeder]

Could have been much stiffer if you lathered-up that 4x4 with PL adhesive before shliding it in place and screwing it down. Also could add 1.5” to the width of the rail, notch the floor at each stud and drop a 2x4 down and fasten to the LVL below the floor. A bit of work, but strong like bull.

[ocqspoj]

Well could just sheet the stair wall with 1/2 inch plywood. Then not cutting beam an drywall over it. A extra 1/2 inch thick wall no big deal. Cutting a beam down the road maybe a big deal

[Rob-tomu]

You just cut an LVL that appears to be supporting the joists for the entire second floor.. I've seen this happen on jobsites, when something like this happens an immediate stop work order is placed until the structural engineer reviews the situation.

[jredd]

Metal framer here. Knee wall stiffener and glue the studs prior to installing your plywood / drywall and that wall ain't moving.

[floridalifestyleapparel]

Glue a sheet of plywood with PL under your drywall and it will be rock solid.

[hmtrimworks]

A 2x4 would have sufficed…
But in that situation I “probably” would have made the knee wall 1-1/2” wider and sent several 2x4’s on flat through the floor then screwed to the wall and the LVL…
•Just another option, especially if cutting the LVL is not an option😁…
•Did I mention that you guys are awesome 😎

[hotwaxonmyuddersohyeahmoo]

All I will say is I hope you put support under those lvls. No matter how supported it may be, its only proper to put in two king studs and jacks

[bugtusslealien]

Obviously, the wall below is a support wall with some sort of footing at the bottom if it's slab on grade. LVL continuosly running from back to front provides wonderful lateral support (almost like a tie beam).
To strengthen that cripple wall, use 3/4" plywood on both sides. Drape plywood from top of cripple wall to bottom of LVL. Other side cut 4 inch wide x 3/4 inch notch through floor Drape the 3/4 inch plywood or steel plate to the other side of LVL. Of course use screws on both sides or lag bolt through lvl. Do that and will be solid as a rock. Avoid cutting LVL and using those long screws.

[paulthesoundguy]

NO NEED TO CUT AN LVL. HUGE MISTAKE AND THE WALL STILL MOVED AT THE END WHEN THE GUY TOUCHED IT….

[nicholasmendoza]

In the design phase, Account for a sheet of 1 1/8 ply on the wall. Glue and screw it to the lvl. Also use screws to build the pony wall. Make the pony wall out of 2x6.

[pcatful]

Thanks! I am working on a detail for the SAME condition in a remodel. This gives me something to consider. (I'm really surprised by the negative comments. This LVL is just sitting on a wall and supports a little bit of plywood floor, a cut in it does not change the function. The wall is providing all the support.)

[randyhall]

All good untill someone down the road takes that lower wall out thinking the lvl will hold

[aaronpops]

So what may not have been a load bearing wall due to the beam is now a load bearing wall.

[Christopherjamesmurphy]

I'd love to spend a week with you at work. You're very knowledgeable.