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LVL Beam to Open the Living Room

18 photos · demo and renovation

Once the demo was done I had a load-bearing wall standing between the kitchen and the living area. I jacked the ceiling on temporary posts, dropped in an LVL header, then framed the new opening wide enough to land a pair of pocket doors later. Inspector signed off on the framing, and I rerouted the outlets and BX cable that used to live in that wall.

  1. New LVL beam set across the opening between kitchen and living room. Lake view all the way through. During

    New LVL beam set across the opening between kitchen and living room. Lake view all the way through.

    demo and renovation
  2. Temporary jack post holding the ceiling while I cut into the load-bearing wall. Always nerve-wracking. During

    Temporary jack post holding the ceiling while I cut into the load-bearing wall. Always nerve-wracking.

    demo and renovation
  3. Where the new beam lands on the sill. I ran yellow Romex along the foundation to keep the run clean.

    Where the new beam lands on the sill. I ran yellow Romex along the foundation to keep the run clean.

    demo and renovation
  4. PEX water line and Romex tucked into the stud bay before insulation went back in. During

    PEX water line and Romex tucked into the stud bay before insulation went back in.

    demo and renovation
  5. Header in place between living room and kitchen. Now the opening could go full width. During

    Header in place between living room and kitchen. Now the opening could go full width.

    demo and renovation
  6. Rough framing for the wider opening with Rockwool staged for the surrounding walls. During

    Rough framing for the wider opening with Rockwool staged for the surrounding walls.

    demo and renovation
  8. Open floor plan starting to read. Wall studs still up between kitchen and the room beyond. During

    Open floor plan starting to read. Wall studs still up between kitchen and the room beyond.

    demo and renovation
  9. New LVL with the conduit and outlet rerouted around the framing. No splices buried in the wall. During

    New LVL with the conduit and outlet rerouted around the framing. No splices buried in the wall.

    demo and renovation
  10. Framed opening for the fireplace insert built into the wall I was rebuilding. During

    Framed opening for the fireplace insert built into the wall I was rebuilding.

    demo and renovation
  11. New window opening framed with header and king studs. Brought daylight into a corner that never had any. During

    New window opening framed with header and king studs. Brought daylight into a corner that never had any.

    demo and renovation
  12. Second window opening framed in. Two new windows total on this elevation. During

    Second window opening framed in. Two new windows total on this elevation.

    demo and renovation
  13. Knee wall opened up so I could reroute and reinsulate before closing it back in. During

    Knee wall opened up so I could reroute and reinsulate before closing it back in.

    demo and renovation
  15. Fireplace insert opening with the surrounding bays still exposed. Easier to insulate around it now. During

    Fireplace insert opening with the surrounding bays still exposed. Easier to insulate around it now.

    demo and renovation
  16. Wall open showing the original plank subfloor. I left it where I could and shimmed where I had to. During

    Wall open showing the original plank subfloor. I left it where I could and shimmed where I had to.

    demo and renovation
  17. Old steel-stud framing with BX cable feeding low-voltage wire. Pulled it all and ran new. During

    Old steel-stud framing with BX cable feeding low-voltage wire. Pulled it all and ran new.

    demo and renovation
  18. Doubled stud screwed to the bottom plate behind vapor barrier. Solid nailer for trim and door jambs later. During

    Doubled stud screwed to the bottom plate behind vapor barrier. Solid nailer for trim and door jambs later.

    demo and renovation
  19. Wall open showing baseboard copper still live. I worked around the heating loop instead of cutting it. During

    Wall open showing baseboard copper still live. I worked around the heating loop instead of cutting it.

    demo and renovation
  20. Framing inspection signed off. Once that sticker's on the wall I can start closing things in.

    Framing inspection signed off. Once that sticker's on the wall I can start closing things in.

    demo and renovation

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