If you’re planning to make an opening in a wall, it’s important to add a header. The header is the piece of wood that goes across the top of the opening and distributes weight evenly across the studs on either side. This keeps the drywall from sagging or pulling away from each other. It also ensures there won’t be any movement in your walls when they’re bumped or hit by something.
Determine which wall you want to build the opening in and where it will be.
Before you can start building your header, you’ll need to determine which wall you want it in and where the opening will be. The wall should be structurally sound and not load bearing. It should also not be located in an area where water will come into contact with it, as wood does not hold up well when exposed to moisture for long periods of time. If there is any chance at all of high winds hitting the side of your home where this opening will be built, it’s best to avoid putting one there altogether because these things are known for blowing off their hinges and slamming into other things with great force (which could result in injury).
Use a stud finder to locate the studs that are on either side of the opening you want to create.
- Use a stud finder to locate the studs that are on either side of the opening you want to create. You can use a standard pencil and mark where you think the center of your header is, but this technique can be inaccurate, especially if you don’t know how far away from either side of the wall your studs are located.
- Place the blade of your stud finder against one of the walls and push it into its surface until it sticks (you may have to wiggle it around). If there is no resistance, continue pressing so that once again you feel resistance when going further into its surface. This will tell you where one end (or edge) of each beam is located.
- If there was no resistance at all when going in further with your blade, check if anything is blocking access between inside and outside spaces; if not then try another spot along this same wall—it could just be some sort of obstruction between those two spaces like insulation or electrical wiring.
Measure the length of the wall between the two studs that are on either side of the opening.
You need to measure the length of your wall from one end to the other. You will use this measurement when ordering your header, so it’s important that you get it right.
Once you have measured, it is time to measure your studs. A 2×6 wall has two studs on either side of an opening in a room (like a doorway). One way to find them is with a stud finder; another way is by placing your hand against the wall and feeling for bumps in between sheets of drywall or plasterboard. Measure between each pair of studs and make sure they are centered on every side of your opening. It’s also best if they’re directly above where you will be building doors so that people entering won’t bump their heads on top while passing through them.
Cut two pieces of 2×6 to length using a circular saw or handsaw.
The first step to making your header is cutting two pieces of 2×6 to length. You can use a circular saw and miter saw, or hand-cut the boards with a handsaw. In either case, make sure that the cuts are straight and even. A framing square will help you ensure that your cuts are true and square.
Attach the two 2×6 pieces to either side of the opening with screws placed every 8 inches along the length of each board.
- Attach the two 2×6 pieces to either side of the opening with screws placed every 8 inches along the length of each board.
- Use 16d nails or construction screws, whichever is appropriate for your wall. The nails should be on an angle, so they hold firmly in place. If you’re using screws, drill pilot holes first and then drive them in at an angle so they grip well into the studs.
- Make sure that both pieces are flush with the walls on either side of your header before you begin attaching them; otherwise, they may be too short!
Starting at one end, nail 16d nails every 8 inches through each piece of 2×6 into each stud.
Starting at one end of the 2×6, nail 16d nails every 8 inches through each piece of 2×6 into each stud. If you don’t have a nail gun, use a hammer and make sure to measure your spacing with a tape measure.
Making a header for an opening is easy if you have basic carpentry skills and tools.
- Make sure you have the right tools and materials.
- Make sure you have the right skill level to do the job.
- Make sure you have the right space in which to complete this project.
- Make sure you have all of your safety equipment on hand, including masks, gloves, ear protection and eye protection if necessary for your project. You should always wear safety glasses when operating power tools such as a circular saw or table saw since these can throw off tiny bits of wood that can get into your eyes and cause serious damage to them permanently if not properly guarded against them with good quality eye protection like goggles or glasses with filters built into them that block UV rays from reaching your eyes while still allowing light through them so that they are visible enough for you see clearly throughout their use when cutting wood using any kind of tool at all times during its operation period.”
Conclusion
If you want to build an opening in a wall, you will need to build a header first. The header is placed over the opening and supports the weight of the wall above it. You can make a header for most any size hole using dimensional lumber. In this example, we’ll show how to do this in an 8-foot-high 2×6 wall.
