When can door widening be done without full header/king‑stud replacement under code?
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If you’re just removing a small part of a non-supporting wall, you can make it wider by simply trimming the drywall, adjusting the trimmers, and fitting the new jamb without messing with the header or king studs. But, for a supporting wall, you might get a few extra inches by using a thinner jamb or moving the trimmer studs. Keep in mind that if you cut into the header too much, you’ll need to rebuild it with a proper header and full support to meet code.
Door widening can be done without full header or king stud replacement under code in certain situations.
When the existing king studs can support the load: If the king studs are sufficient to support the weight of the header and the door, you might not need to replace them. This is often the case when the door opening is not excessively wide or the load-bearing capacity of the king studs is not compromised.
Using a header hanger: A header hanger can provide additional support to the header, potentially eliminating the need for full king stud replacement. However, this depends on the specific design and load requirements.
Door widening can be done without replacing the full header and king studs if the new width stays within the original rough opening’s load‑bearing limits and local code allows minor framing modifications, typically under 6–12 inches, with proper jack studs added to support the header. Verification by a structural review is usually required.