Victoria cottage -adding a sliding glass door

[highlandva]

On the great room end wall of the main structure is it ok to replace the door and window as drawn with a sliding glass door?

[John Raabe]

There is a long span beam load coming down the center of that wall. Note the heavy header over the window in the Loft Plan. You could do an appropriate header over a sliding door at the lower level as well. The size should be checked locally for your snow load. It might be a triple 2x12 or an LVL.

[highlandva]

I will not be using a ridge beam for the roof, collar ties and gussets.  Does this make any difference?

[MountainDon]

What is the plan for the roof?

[John Raabe]

If you are doing the Alternative Cross Section for the simple studio house layout then the roof load will be off the end wall. A double 2x8 would be fine for the slider header.

Check that the diagrammed roof framing will work in your location and consider a truss company design if you are in a code area. They will factor in all the wind and snow loads.

[highlandva]

I am using the alternative cross section roof design.  I will run this by my building inspector first and probably upgrade to 2X10 rafters.  Thanks for the information.  I was thinking this would be OK since the load is on the side walls with this design.  As always, Great site and quick replies!!!