My neighbor told me to use a 2x6 header for a 4-foot opening, and I'm glad I listened

I was framing a new interior wall in my basement last month and needed to cut in a doorway. I was going to just double up some 2x4s for the header, thinking it was non-load bearing. My neighbor Frank, who used to be a framer, came over, looked at the joists above, and said, 'Nope, you need a proper 2x6 header, trust me.' I bought the 2x6, built the header, and installed it. A few days later, I was up in the attic and realized that wall actually runs parallel to a floor joist that carries part of the upstairs bathroom wall. Has anyone else had a similar 'good call' moment from a more experienced person that saved a project?

3 comments

3 Comments

xena_webb2mo ago

My uncle insisted on three coats of paint, and now I see why.

paul_burns2mo ago

Three coats? That sounds like a crazy amount of work. I usually just do one and hope for the best. Your uncle must have the patience of a saint.

nathanh441mo ago

That one coat method can really backfire though. You end up with thin spots and uneven color that shows through. It's a classic case of doing it right the first time.