How to cut doorway through braced wall?

[OldSmokey]

Small bar off Lounge.Closing off old entrance. want to make new doorway through drywall in hallway. Cot out drywall on hall side encountered steel bracing need advice on how to proceed with thisgyprock cut doorway

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @OldSmokey. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about cutting through a wall.

I presume you've already checked and had it determined that this is not a load-bearing wall. If not, I suggest you halt progress here and have that done.

Bracing stiffens the frame, so removing the brace shouldn't be an issue if you are adding additional timber framing into the cavity. I'd start by taking out the noggin on the right-hand side and insert your replacement timber upright. You can then cut the bracing and do the same on the left. Once the new upright timbers are installed on either side of the opening, you can install additional timber at the top.

Here's a helpful step-by-step guide: How to remove a stud wall.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[JPDIY]

Hi Mitchell,

similar to this issue i want to add an internal window in my living room to let some light into it. I have a cross brace just on the right bottom corner that I’d like to cut if it’s ok to fit a Frame of glass brick window.  What’s your opinion? 

 

[JacobZ]

Hi @JPDIY,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is wonderful to have you with us.

Generally speaking, it is not a good idea to remove bracing, as it is serving a structural purpose that can't really be determined without an understanding of the building plans or the inspection of a suitably trained professional.

Have you had the wall assessed to ensure it is not load-bearing? Do you have access to the building plans that detail the purpose of the bracing?

As above, you may be alright to cut it and install additional timber bracing around the opening, but I wouldn't suggest you do this unless you have things assessed by a professional and they determine it is fine to do.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

[JPDIY]

Hey Jacob 

i appreciate your reply. No, I didn’t have the wall assessed. Considering your advise what I think I’ll do to avoid any problems is make the window hight shorter by about 200mm to avoid having to cut the brace. 

thanks again. 

[JacobZ]

Hi @JPDIY,

Your plan to raise the height of the base of the window would certainly allow you to keep the bracing in place, but if you've removed any studs and this wall is load-bearing, there could still be structural implications.

If you're not sure whether the wall is load-bearing or not, I would encourage you to have it checked out.

Jacob