In Sandy, Utah, the clients are looking to refresh their home by replacing the existing windows at the front popout with a design that allows more glass and a better view. Structurally, this project is made simpler by the fact that the front wall does not carry the primary snow load. While the popout does bear a small section of roof—about 12 feet by 2 feet—the load here is minimal, meaning the header supporting the new window may be lighter than in other areas of the home.
We outlined two options for the header design. If the client prefers to follow the roof line, two LVL headers of six feet or less may be placed on a pitch of 4/12 or less, each at a minimum size of 1-1/2×5-1/2. If a single horizontal look is preferred, one LVL may span up to ten feet with a minimum size of 1-1/2×7-1/4. In either case, the load at the corners will need to be carried to the foundation with jack studs, and Simpson connectors with properly sized screws will ensure that headers, studs, and the foundation are securely tied together.
One consideration is shear. Because the home is older, it likely was not designed with modern shear requirements in mind. While not strictly necessary, the engineer recommended that the clients consider adding reinforcement by removing drywall in certain areas and installing OSB or similar materials with a six-inch nail pattern. This step would provide extra stiffness against wind and ensure the new glass wall performs well in the long term.
