Window And Door Headers Size

Calculating header size is no picnic as you learn how to frame a window.

Window and door headers size.

A 36 door has a rough opening width of 38 so your header is cut at 41. Between 4 and 5 feet the header should be built 2 inches wide and 8 inches long while a larger opening needs a header that is 2 by 12. In the top picture above the door opening is 5. If you re a novice framer then this is the height of the bottom of the window and door headers.

Measure the width of your door frame. For load bearing walls you will need to use a 4 by board for the header or two 2 by boards on either side of a piece of 1 2 inch plywood. In all but the most bizarre situations they ll easily carry the weight for 4 ft. Wide a common patio door width.

When in doubt use 2 by 12 inch headers. Tables providing size selections for various beam spans and loading combinations for southern pine dimension lumber and southern pine glued laminated timber are available for the following applications. If you are putting in an opening between 4 and 5 feet wide then you ll need two 2 by 8 headers. If you are creating an opening no wider than 4 feet for a door or smaller window then you need a 2 by 6 header.

Until then we framed headers for window and door openings like most framers in our area a double 2x12 with a 1 2 inch plywood spacer for a 2x4 wall. The length of a header can be measured from the size of the rough opening for the window plus the width of the trimmer studs sometimes called jack studs. Most door frames that are 4 feet wide or less require a 2 by 6 header. Also be aware double or triple jack studs may be required based on the opening width and the load the header carries.

Window door garage door headers supporting roof wall floor loads. Which means the jack studs are 81 inches long typically. This is also the top of the jack studs. So the header is constructed of two 2x6 s with a 1 2 osb or plywood spacer.

A typical header width with single jack studs is cut 3 larger than the rough opening. This width is the same width as a typical 2x4 framed wall. 82 1 2 inches also happens to be the standard header height for windows and doors. Wide window and door openings and in most situations be code compliant for openings up to 6 ft.