Are these integrated diagonal wall braces structurally important?












6














I was helping a friend expand the width of a closet door, and when we pulled the drywall off the interior wall frame, we noticed some 45-degree wall braces in the interior wall.



I am pretty sure they are just for convenience during construction (e.g. a bother to remove once the frames are fully built or just there for drywall to be nailed into).



However, I am not an expert, so I wasn't sure if these were structural (maybe some type of shear wall support?) or not. In case it matters, the house was built in 1951 and is in western Georgia. All the wooden beams, including the angled ones, are held in place with 4inch nails.



Are these angle braces safe to remove and leave out? The entire cutaway area (sans drywall) would be a closet door with a frame of two 2x4s above and a vertical 2x4 on either side.



Head-on view



Angle view with window/exterior wall in frame



Closeup view










share|improve this question




















  • 2




    Not that it matters much, but this is not 45°
    – pipe
    20 hours ago










  • @pipe I'm aware, I just felt like it was the easiest descriptor that would be easily recognized as "not at a right angle", short of whipping out a protractor.
    – TylerH
    15 hours ago
















6














I was helping a friend expand the width of a closet door, and when we pulled the drywall off the interior wall frame, we noticed some 45-degree wall braces in the interior wall.



I am pretty sure they are just for convenience during construction (e.g. a bother to remove once the frames are fully built or just there for drywall to be nailed into).



However, I am not an expert, so I wasn't sure if these were structural (maybe some type of shear wall support?) or not. In case it matters, the house was built in 1951 and is in western Georgia. All the wooden beams, including the angled ones, are held in place with 4inch nails.



Are these angle braces safe to remove and leave out? The entire cutaway area (sans drywall) would be a closet door with a frame of two 2x4s above and a vertical 2x4 on either side.



Head-on view



Angle view with window/exterior wall in frame



Closeup view










share|improve this question




















  • 2




    Not that it matters much, but this is not 45°
    – pipe
    20 hours ago










  • @pipe I'm aware, I just felt like it was the easiest descriptor that would be easily recognized as "not at a right angle", short of whipping out a protractor.
    – TylerH
    15 hours ago














6












6








6







I was helping a friend expand the width of a closet door, and when we pulled the drywall off the interior wall frame, we noticed some 45-degree wall braces in the interior wall.



I am pretty sure they are just for convenience during construction (e.g. a bother to remove once the frames are fully built or just there for drywall to be nailed into).



However, I am not an expert, so I wasn't sure if these were structural (maybe some type of shear wall support?) or not. In case it matters, the house was built in 1951 and is in western Georgia. All the wooden beams, including the angled ones, are held in place with 4inch nails.



Are these angle braces safe to remove and leave out? The entire cutaway area (sans drywall) would be a closet door with a frame of two 2x4s above and a vertical 2x4 on either side.



Head-on view



Angle view with window/exterior wall in frame



Closeup view










share|improve this question















I was helping a friend expand the width of a closet door, and when we pulled the drywall off the interior wall frame, we noticed some 45-degree wall braces in the interior wall.



I am pretty sure they are just for convenience during construction (e.g. a bother to remove once the frames are fully built or just there for drywall to be nailed into).



However, I am not an expert, so I wasn't sure if these were structural (maybe some type of shear wall support?) or not. In case it matters, the house was built in 1951 and is in western Georgia. All the wooden beams, including the angled ones, are held in place with 4inch nails.



Are these angle braces safe to remove and leave out? The entire cutaway area (sans drywall) would be a closet door with a frame of two 2x4s above and a vertical 2x4 on either side.



Head-on view



Angle view with window/exterior wall in frame



Closeup view







walls structural construction






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 12 hours ago









isherwood

45k453115




45k453115










asked yesterday









TylerH

1727




1727








  • 2




    Not that it matters much, but this is not 45°
    – pipe
    20 hours ago










  • @pipe I'm aware, I just felt like it was the easiest descriptor that would be easily recognized as "not at a right angle", short of whipping out a protractor.
    – TylerH
    15 hours ago














  • 2




    Not that it matters much, but this is not 45°
    – pipe
    20 hours ago










  • @pipe I'm aware, I just felt like it was the easiest descriptor that would be easily recognized as "not at a right angle", short of whipping out a protractor.
    – TylerH
    15 hours ago








2




2




Not that it matters much, but this is not 45°
– pipe
20 hours ago




Not that it matters much, but this is not 45°
– pipe
20 hours ago












@pipe I'm aware, I just felt like it was the easiest descriptor that would be easily recognized as "not at a right angle", short of whipping out a protractor.
– TylerH
15 hours ago




@pipe I'm aware, I just felt like it was the easiest descriptor that would be easily recognized as "not at a right angle", short of whipping out a protractor.
– TylerH
15 hours ago










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















4














Sometimes framing of a short internal wall that TEE's into an exterior wall is braced that way if the exterior wall is:




  1. The exterior wall extends a long distance on either side of the TEE

  2. And the exterior wall is parallel to ceiling joists and floor joists

  3. And has a high gable end wall above this area.


Intention was to eliminate a lot of flex in the exterior wall both during construction and when there is possibility of large gusty wind loads on the wall. You will see less of this with much construction moving toward 2x6 studding for exterior walls. Metal X banding nailed to the face of the studs is also a better way to achieve this result.



Repeating from Isherwood. Make sure to put double stud at the left and right side of your opening. A single 2x4 is just not stiff enough and you will really appreciate it being there when you come to install door casing or trim.






share|improve this answer





















  • The last reno I did on a balloon construction, the bisecting (middle) interior walls on both floors were to be sheathed in plywood to prevent racking of the house.
    – Mazura
    yesterday



















3














Temporary braces are nailed to the face of the wall, not fit into it. That was intended as a structural member by the carpenter.



That said, it's almost certainly not critical. The entirety of the other nearby walls and the roof structure likely provide many times what that one brace does in diagonal support. Also, you don't see that technique used anymore.



I wouldn't hesitate to remove the portion that impedes your progress.



I do suggest a doubled stud, however, and you might want to orient at least one of your header members vertically, for stiffness:



 __
| |
| |
| |
|__|____
|_______|





share|improve this answer























  • When you say orient one header vertically, do you mean like |_ as opposed to || (looking down the long axis of the headers)?
    – TylerH
    yesterday






  • 1




    @TylerH - No, he means |_ as opposed to =
    – AndyT
    20 hours ago










  • @AndyT I see. Well, the plan was to go with || originally, not =; I'm not sure if the wall framing can fit something in the shape of |_, but since isherwood said "at least one", I assume || is best.
    – TylerH
    15 hours ago






  • 1




    You'd put the horizontal member on the bottom.
    – isherwood
    15 hours ago










  • @TylerH - Looking on plan, the studs in a wall look something like: | | | | | |. In order to then have your header the same width as the studs, your header is then laid flat / horizontally, i.e. like _ when looking down its axis. isherwood's recommendation is to do a doubled header, with the second header rotated to give greater vertical bending stiffness.
    – AndyT
    15 hours ago



















2














We have a few of those in our walls. Local code does not require them but our builder was from a place with an appreciable earthquake threat and it was cheaper to build with the existing plans than draw up new ones lacking the earthquake bracing.



Unless the builder was lying that's earthquake bracing.






share|improve this answer





















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    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes








    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    4














    Sometimes framing of a short internal wall that TEE's into an exterior wall is braced that way if the exterior wall is:




    1. The exterior wall extends a long distance on either side of the TEE

    2. And the exterior wall is parallel to ceiling joists and floor joists

    3. And has a high gable end wall above this area.


    Intention was to eliminate a lot of flex in the exterior wall both during construction and when there is possibility of large gusty wind loads on the wall. You will see less of this with much construction moving toward 2x6 studding for exterior walls. Metal X banding nailed to the face of the studs is also a better way to achieve this result.



    Repeating from Isherwood. Make sure to put double stud at the left and right side of your opening. A single 2x4 is just not stiff enough and you will really appreciate it being there when you come to install door casing or trim.






    share|improve this answer





















    • The last reno I did on a balloon construction, the bisecting (middle) interior walls on both floors were to be sheathed in plywood to prevent racking of the house.
      – Mazura
      yesterday
















    4














    Sometimes framing of a short internal wall that TEE's into an exterior wall is braced that way if the exterior wall is:




    1. The exterior wall extends a long distance on either side of the TEE

    2. And the exterior wall is parallel to ceiling joists and floor joists

    3. And has a high gable end wall above this area.


    Intention was to eliminate a lot of flex in the exterior wall both during construction and when there is possibility of large gusty wind loads on the wall. You will see less of this with much construction moving toward 2x6 studding for exterior walls. Metal X banding nailed to the face of the studs is also a better way to achieve this result.



    Repeating from Isherwood. Make sure to put double stud at the left and right side of your opening. A single 2x4 is just not stiff enough and you will really appreciate it being there when you come to install door casing or trim.






    share|improve this answer





















    • The last reno I did on a balloon construction, the bisecting (middle) interior walls on both floors were to be sheathed in plywood to prevent racking of the house.
      – Mazura
      yesterday














    4












    4








    4






    Sometimes framing of a short internal wall that TEE's into an exterior wall is braced that way if the exterior wall is:




    1. The exterior wall extends a long distance on either side of the TEE

    2. And the exterior wall is parallel to ceiling joists and floor joists

    3. And has a high gable end wall above this area.


    Intention was to eliminate a lot of flex in the exterior wall both during construction and when there is possibility of large gusty wind loads on the wall. You will see less of this with much construction moving toward 2x6 studding for exterior walls. Metal X banding nailed to the face of the studs is also a better way to achieve this result.



    Repeating from Isherwood. Make sure to put double stud at the left and right side of your opening. A single 2x4 is just not stiff enough and you will really appreciate it being there when you come to install door casing or trim.






    share|improve this answer












    Sometimes framing of a short internal wall that TEE's into an exterior wall is braced that way if the exterior wall is:




    1. The exterior wall extends a long distance on either side of the TEE

    2. And the exterior wall is parallel to ceiling joists and floor joists

    3. And has a high gable end wall above this area.


    Intention was to eliminate a lot of flex in the exterior wall both during construction and when there is possibility of large gusty wind loads on the wall. You will see less of this with much construction moving toward 2x6 studding for exterior walls. Metal X banding nailed to the face of the studs is also a better way to achieve this result.



    Repeating from Isherwood. Make sure to put double stud at the left and right side of your opening. A single 2x4 is just not stiff enough and you will really appreciate it being there when you come to install door casing or trim.







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered yesterday









    Michael Karas

    43.6k43482




    43.6k43482












    • The last reno I did on a balloon construction, the bisecting (middle) interior walls on both floors were to be sheathed in plywood to prevent racking of the house.
      – Mazura
      yesterday


















    • The last reno I did on a balloon construction, the bisecting (middle) interior walls on both floors were to be sheathed in plywood to prevent racking of the house.
      – Mazura
      yesterday
















    The last reno I did on a balloon construction, the bisecting (middle) interior walls on both floors were to be sheathed in plywood to prevent racking of the house.
    – Mazura
    yesterday




    The last reno I did on a balloon construction, the bisecting (middle) interior walls on both floors were to be sheathed in plywood to prevent racking of the house.
    – Mazura
    yesterday













    3














    Temporary braces are nailed to the face of the wall, not fit into it. That was intended as a structural member by the carpenter.



    That said, it's almost certainly not critical. The entirety of the other nearby walls and the roof structure likely provide many times what that one brace does in diagonal support. Also, you don't see that technique used anymore.



    I wouldn't hesitate to remove the portion that impedes your progress.



    I do suggest a doubled stud, however, and you might want to orient at least one of your header members vertically, for stiffness:



     __
    | |
    | |
    | |
    |__|____
    |_______|





    share|improve this answer























    • When you say orient one header vertically, do you mean like |_ as opposed to || (looking down the long axis of the headers)?
      – TylerH
      yesterday






    • 1




      @TylerH - No, he means |_ as opposed to =
      – AndyT
      20 hours ago










    • @AndyT I see. Well, the plan was to go with || originally, not =; I'm not sure if the wall framing can fit something in the shape of |_, but since isherwood said "at least one", I assume || is best.
      – TylerH
      15 hours ago






    • 1




      You'd put the horizontal member on the bottom.
      – isherwood
      15 hours ago










    • @TylerH - Looking on plan, the studs in a wall look something like: | | | | | |. In order to then have your header the same width as the studs, your header is then laid flat / horizontally, i.e. like _ when looking down its axis. isherwood's recommendation is to do a doubled header, with the second header rotated to give greater vertical bending stiffness.
      – AndyT
      15 hours ago
















    3














    Temporary braces are nailed to the face of the wall, not fit into it. That was intended as a structural member by the carpenter.



    That said, it's almost certainly not critical. The entirety of the other nearby walls and the roof structure likely provide many times what that one brace does in diagonal support. Also, you don't see that technique used anymore.



    I wouldn't hesitate to remove the portion that impedes your progress.



    I do suggest a doubled stud, however, and you might want to orient at least one of your header members vertically, for stiffness:



     __
    | |
    | |
    | |
    |__|____
    |_______|





    share|improve this answer























    • When you say orient one header vertically, do you mean like |_ as opposed to || (looking down the long axis of the headers)?
      – TylerH
      yesterday






    • 1




      @TylerH - No, he means |_ as opposed to =
      – AndyT
      20 hours ago










    • @AndyT I see. Well, the plan was to go with || originally, not =; I'm not sure if the wall framing can fit something in the shape of |_, but since isherwood said "at least one", I assume || is best.
      – TylerH
      15 hours ago






    • 1




      You'd put the horizontal member on the bottom.
      – isherwood
      15 hours ago










    • @TylerH - Looking on plan, the studs in a wall look something like: | | | | | |. In order to then have your header the same width as the studs, your header is then laid flat / horizontally, i.e. like _ when looking down its axis. isherwood's recommendation is to do a doubled header, with the second header rotated to give greater vertical bending stiffness.
      – AndyT
      15 hours ago














    3












    3








    3






    Temporary braces are nailed to the face of the wall, not fit into it. That was intended as a structural member by the carpenter.



    That said, it's almost certainly not critical. The entirety of the other nearby walls and the roof structure likely provide many times what that one brace does in diagonal support. Also, you don't see that technique used anymore.



    I wouldn't hesitate to remove the portion that impedes your progress.



    I do suggest a doubled stud, however, and you might want to orient at least one of your header members vertically, for stiffness:



     __
    | |
    | |
    | |
    |__|____
    |_______|





    share|improve this answer














    Temporary braces are nailed to the face of the wall, not fit into it. That was intended as a structural member by the carpenter.



    That said, it's almost certainly not critical. The entirety of the other nearby walls and the roof structure likely provide many times what that one brace does in diagonal support. Also, you don't see that technique used anymore.



    I wouldn't hesitate to remove the portion that impedes your progress.



    I do suggest a doubled stud, however, and you might want to orient at least one of your header members vertically, for stiffness:



     __
    | |
    | |
    | |
    |__|____
    |_______|






    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited 15 hours ago

























    answered yesterday









    isherwood

    45k453115




    45k453115












    • When you say orient one header vertically, do you mean like |_ as opposed to || (looking down the long axis of the headers)?
      – TylerH
      yesterday






    • 1




      @TylerH - No, he means |_ as opposed to =
      – AndyT
      20 hours ago










    • @AndyT I see. Well, the plan was to go with || originally, not =; I'm not sure if the wall framing can fit something in the shape of |_, but since isherwood said "at least one", I assume || is best.
      – TylerH
      15 hours ago






    • 1




      You'd put the horizontal member on the bottom.
      – isherwood
      15 hours ago










    • @TylerH - Looking on plan, the studs in a wall look something like: | | | | | |. In order to then have your header the same width as the studs, your header is then laid flat / horizontally, i.e. like _ when looking down its axis. isherwood's recommendation is to do a doubled header, with the second header rotated to give greater vertical bending stiffness.
      – AndyT
      15 hours ago


















    • When you say orient one header vertically, do you mean like |_ as opposed to || (looking down the long axis of the headers)?
      – TylerH
      yesterday






    • 1




      @TylerH - No, he means |_ as opposed to =
      – AndyT
      20 hours ago










    • @AndyT I see. Well, the plan was to go with || originally, not =; I'm not sure if the wall framing can fit something in the shape of |_, but since isherwood said "at least one", I assume || is best.
      – TylerH
      15 hours ago






    • 1




      You'd put the horizontal member on the bottom.
      – isherwood
      15 hours ago










    • @TylerH - Looking on plan, the studs in a wall look something like: | | | | | |. In order to then have your header the same width as the studs, your header is then laid flat / horizontally, i.e. like _ when looking down its axis. isherwood's recommendation is to do a doubled header, with the second header rotated to give greater vertical bending stiffness.
      – AndyT
      15 hours ago
















    When you say orient one header vertically, do you mean like |_ as opposed to || (looking down the long axis of the headers)?
    – TylerH
    yesterday




    When you say orient one header vertically, do you mean like |_ as opposed to || (looking down the long axis of the headers)?
    – TylerH
    yesterday




    1




    1




    @TylerH - No, he means |_ as opposed to =
    – AndyT
    20 hours ago




    @TylerH - No, he means |_ as opposed to =
    – AndyT
    20 hours ago












    @AndyT I see. Well, the plan was to go with || originally, not =; I'm not sure if the wall framing can fit something in the shape of |_, but since isherwood said "at least one", I assume || is best.
    – TylerH
    15 hours ago




    @AndyT I see. Well, the plan was to go with || originally, not =; I'm not sure if the wall framing can fit something in the shape of |_, but since isherwood said "at least one", I assume || is best.
    – TylerH
    15 hours ago




    1




    1




    You'd put the horizontal member on the bottom.
    – isherwood
    15 hours ago




    You'd put the horizontal member on the bottom.
    – isherwood
    15 hours ago












    @TylerH - Looking on plan, the studs in a wall look something like: | | | | | |. In order to then have your header the same width as the studs, your header is then laid flat / horizontally, i.e. like _ when looking down its axis. isherwood's recommendation is to do a doubled header, with the second header rotated to give greater vertical bending stiffness.
    – AndyT
    15 hours ago




    @TylerH - Looking on plan, the studs in a wall look something like: | | | | | |. In order to then have your header the same width as the studs, your header is then laid flat / horizontally, i.e. like _ when looking down its axis. isherwood's recommendation is to do a doubled header, with the second header rotated to give greater vertical bending stiffness.
    – AndyT
    15 hours ago











    2














    We have a few of those in our walls. Local code does not require them but our builder was from a place with an appreciable earthquake threat and it was cheaper to build with the existing plans than draw up new ones lacking the earthquake bracing.



    Unless the builder was lying that's earthquake bracing.






    share|improve this answer


























      2














      We have a few of those in our walls. Local code does not require them but our builder was from a place with an appreciable earthquake threat and it was cheaper to build with the existing plans than draw up new ones lacking the earthquake bracing.



      Unless the builder was lying that's earthquake bracing.






      share|improve this answer
























        2












        2








        2






        We have a few of those in our walls. Local code does not require them but our builder was from a place with an appreciable earthquake threat and it was cheaper to build with the existing plans than draw up new ones lacking the earthquake bracing.



        Unless the builder was lying that's earthquake bracing.






        share|improve this answer












        We have a few of those in our walls. Local code does not require them but our builder was from a place with an appreciable earthquake threat and it was cheaper to build with the existing plans than draw up new ones lacking the earthquake bracing.



        Unless the builder was lying that's earthquake bracing.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 23 hours ago









        Loren Pechtel

        749412




        749412






























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