bolt in blue
Apr 19, 2015, 12:37 PM
My house was built in 1960. In 1979, a previous owner remodeled the kitchen, removing two walls to open the room up. The kitchen is at the front of the house, with the stairs to the basement behind it, and then the dining room is on the back of the house. The owner removed the walls on either side of the stairs, replacing them with half walls.
Where the dining room wall was, the drywall is cracking. On the other side of the small remaining bearing wall, there is another significant crack. These cracks are generally stable, but have grown years we've had heavy snowfall (18+ inches accumulation). The cracks have been previously been repaired but always return.
When he removed the walls, the previous owner added two 2"x10"x10' boards in the attic to provide extra support, although these boards only run from the removed area part way into the remaining bearing section. These boards are nailed with one or two nails into each of the studs that go between the attic floor and roof. I don't think he added adequate support. If nothing else, I think I should add some screws to his supports.
Any advice on what I should do to reinforce my attic to stop the cracking? Thanks!
Cracking ceiling
47346
Removed walls - back wall was bearing, front was not
47347
Attic reinforcement
47345
47348
Where the dining room wall was, the drywall is cracking. On the other side of the small remaining bearing wall, there is another significant crack. These cracks are generally stable, but have grown years we've had heavy snowfall (18+ inches accumulation). The cracks have been previously been repaired but always return.
When he removed the walls, the previous owner added two 2"x10"x10' boards in the attic to provide extra support, although these boards only run from the removed area part way into the remaining bearing section. These boards are nailed with one or two nails into each of the studs that go between the attic floor and roof. I don't think he added adequate support. If nothing else, I think I should add some screws to his supports.
Any advice on what I should do to reinforce my attic to stop the cracking? Thanks!
Cracking ceiling
47346
Removed walls - back wall was bearing, front was not
47347
Attic reinforcement
47345
47348