Are these 45-degree wall braces structurally important or just for convenience?












4














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



























    4














    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

























      4












      4








      4







      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










      asked 6 hours ago









      TylerH

      1627




      1627






















          2 Answers
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          active

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          3














          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
            15 mins ago



















          2














          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
            2 hours ago











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          2 Answers
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          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

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          active

          oldest

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          active

          oldest

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          3














          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
            15 mins ago
















          3














          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
            15 mins ago














          3












          3








          3






          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 4 hours ago









          Michael Karas

          43.5k43482




          43.5k43482












          • 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
            15 mins ago


















          • 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
            15 mins ago
















          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
          15 mins ago




          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
          15 mins ago













          2














          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
            2 hours ago
















          2














          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
            2 hours ago














          2












          2








          2






          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










          answered 5 hours ago









          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
            2 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
            2 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
          2 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
          2 hours ago


















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