How high should/must a header be in a 5' doorway?

Question

If the header is going to be 5.5 inches thick? I'm in Texas and having trouble finding the regulations online, so what's the standard?

Answer 1

Boy have you got troubles, Texas where all men are giants and a 5' doorway.  Not a happy combination, put up a warning sign or a John Wayne lookalike will drop you.

Answer 2

For a typical rough opening for any interior door, the bottom of your header should be at 82 inches above the subfloor.  This allows for shimming, and for raising the door up if you have carpet on the floor.

Answer 3

The "Rule of Thumb" for framing door openings is to make the rough opening 2-1/2" higher than the finish door, and 2" wider than the door dimension. If you are installing a "Double-Swing" door with a "T" style astragal already installed, you will probably want to add 1/2" to the rough opening to accommodate the additional width of the astragal.

As for the 2x6 (5-1/2" tall) header, you may want to reconsider the size, depending on whether or not it is in a load bearing wall.

For an EXTERIOR wall, supporting only a roof and ceiling load, if the "Building Width" (actually this means the length of the house as measured perpendicular to the header) exceeds 20 feet, you will need at least a double 2x8 header. If the wall supports a roof load, a ceiling load, and one "center-bearing' floor load; a 2x8 will barely make it for a 20' "Building Width", but I'd be more comfortable with a 2x10.

If the floor is a "clear-span" floor load (framed with "TJIs" or parallel chord floor trusses, for example); you will need double 2x10s, for certain. In both of these last 2 scenarios, you will also be required to have two "jack studs" supporting the header at both sides.

These requirements are based on the 2003 International Residential Code, Table R502.5(1).

For an interior bearing wall supporting one floor (again based on only a 20' building width) you will need a minimum of a double 2x8, with a single jack stud on each end. If the wall supports 2 floors; a double 2x12 header is required, with 2 jack studs on each side. These requirements are based on the 2003 IRC Table R502.5(2).

Instead of searching on-line for information you have to purchase a Code book to obtain, why not just call your local Building Department, and ask them?