A window header is a nice way to add an architectural element to your home when you're building. All windows require a header to withstand the weight f the roof or the overhead floor. Window headers are comprised of 2x12 boards, and the window frame requires jack studs on both sides, which reach from the bottom of the window to the top, where the header will be. The jack studs are flanked by king studs which reach from the floor to the ceiling. When the window header is put into place, it should sit flush atop the jack studs and will be fastened to the king studs with nails.
Replacing an existing header with one of a different size is seldom an easy fix. If the house is finished, you will not be able to remove the old header without ripping the siding off. However, you may be able to simply install the new header in front of the old one. Still, you may have to do some finagling to make them both fit. One way to make this project work is to use a Sawzall and cut down the king studs so that they will sit flush with bottom of the new header.
Then you can place the new header atop the king studs just like the old one sits on the jack studs. Cutting the beams can be tricky, and may require several passes with a circular saw, and even some chiseling. It doesn't have to be a clean cut, as this part of the construction will not be seen. When the old beam is out of your way, you can mount the new beam to the wall's interior. You can secure the new beam into place by gently tapping up and down its length with a sledgehammer. Gentle is the operative word, although this can be hard with such a crude tool, if the wall you are working with already has windows in it, you don't want to shatter the glass with a shocking blow.
Tapping the beam harder doesn't make the job faster, it just shakes the rest of the frame, at times tightening it and causing the job to move more slowly. When the new beam is securely in place, you'll want to put in new king studs on either side to finish the job. The new frame you have built should fully conceal the old beam. The added benefit of doing the job this way is that the beam stays intact, which ensures that the roof or the overhead floor is supported while you work. In addition, the siding and existing windows do not have to be removed to do the work, so there's less reconstruction to do. This is an excellent way to tackle a remodeling project if you want to replace your windows with bigger ones. When your frames are all rebuilt, you will simply use your Sawzall to cut out the space for the new window and install.
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