How can I tell what is & isn't a load bearing wall?
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it's a load bearing wall and the outside walls are ALWAYS load bearing . others it depends on where it is and if you have a 2 story house
Hi Trish. First, please understand I am not being judgmental, I just want to let you know that the correct term is "load bearing wall." This is a wall that supports the main weight of the home, and will severely compromise the safety and strength of your home if removed or not properly reinforced. That said, you can easily know which interior walls are load bearing by looking at your roof on the outside of your house. Pay attention to the direction that the peak of your roof runs. Any interior walls that run in the same direction of the peak of your roof are load bearing. Walls that run in the opposite direction are not load bearing. Hope this helps! Best wishes on your project!
Here is an excellent explanation on load bearing walls: http://www.wikihow.com/Tell-if-a-Wall-is-Load-Bearing
You have the wrong word here. The word is load, not low. It is a load bearing wall if it supports other overhead structures. See if there are any other walls support overhead loads, because all walls don't but there is always one or two that do support overhead weights. I hope this helps.
First, is it an exterior wall, or was it an exterior wall before an addition was made to the house? Exterior walls are almost always load-bearing. Second, if you have a basement, can you see your home's beams (the metal, timber or multi-plank structures supported by posts)? Any wall above and running in the same direction as the beam is typically load-bearing. Third, can you see floor joists, either looking up from the basement or looking down from the attic? If it's a load bearing wall, the joists should run perpendicular to it. Fourth, if you have a multi-story home, is there nothing (no wall, no column, no beam) directly above the wall on the next floor? If there's nothing above it but air, it's NOT load-bearing. And one final clue: load-bearing walls usually run in the same direction as the ridge of your roof.
its actually called a "load bearing" wall. It means that it is a wall that sustains the weight of something above it , such as an upstairs or a room or another floor. If you remove a load bearing wall , with out knowing if it is load bearing , you could have things come crashing down on you !!
Hello Trish :) My nephew went to college to be an architect and through him I learned the stuff that is in this first video I am posting for you to watch. I have another few videos for you to see too. Just make sure that you go to the city or county and get the licenses you need to do the work BEFORE you begin --- it's for your own safety ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws2QykJ0z3c
Now learning while looking at the way the walls in a typical house run:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Agabv2l3uXA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUT6SaqfNGM
Watch this video beofre making a doorway larger or removing a wall:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4cIvUnrnyM
and NOW a video on how to remove a weight bearing wall:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZsS_4HiHT8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Yv7afAHAGU
HOW TO REMOVE THE DRYWALL THAT HAS WIRING IN IT (maybe more):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SNgBjdf8d0
HOW TO REMOVE A NON-LOAD BEARING WALL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjtI-sHUsoA
Well that's about all I have to offer about this, but I can tell you what my nephew told me about trying to do this as an amateur DIYer:
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY >>> HIRE A PROFESSIONAL ;)
Thanks for coming toHOMETALK for ansswers ;)
Here you go! These links should help you out.
http://m.wikihow.com/Tell-if-a-Wall-is-Load-Bearing
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-identify-a-load-bearing-wall/#.WcCDV3BlC2c
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/load-bearing-wall
Knowing what a load-bearing wall is could save you many problems. This is because a load-bearing wall carries and distributes parts of the house upon it. Accidentally knocking down a load-bearing wall without the proper support can cause injury or death as the structure may collapse.
Load-bearing walls are tricky to find. There are a few steps you can take to help you narrow down your search.
Load-bearing Wall Suggestions
With a load-bearing wall being so important you should never start remodeling before knowing which walls are load-bearing. If you can’t figure out which walls are load-bearing make sure to call a contractor or a structural engineer before you start your work.