| Often when considering a renovation, | | | | 4. A column above 1. Floor joists from the floor |
| homeowners wonder if a particular wall in their | | | | above. If there is a floor above the wall you want |
| home is a structural load-bearing wall or not. When | | | | to remove, you will need to uncover the floor |
| you are still in the early planning stage of your | | | | joists above the wall (either from above or |
| project, it would be prudent to consider the | | | | below) and determine if any of the joists bear on |
| possibility that your wall is load-bearing. It is an | | | | the wall you want to remove. This can be |
| important thing to know because if it isn't | | | | determined by a visual inspection. Do the joists |
| load-bearing, then removal can be fairly straight | | | | appear to end at, and rest on, the wall? Or do |
| forward and not particularly costly. On the other | | | | you see a longer joist running the over wall and |
| hand, removal of a structural load-bearing wall, | | | | ending further away at another (possibly exterior) |
| while often possible, will require structural changes | | | | wall? If the joists end on the wall you want to |
| such as installing a beam, columns or wall | | | | remove, then your wall is definitely load-bearing. |
| reinforcement in order to transfer the load from | | | | 2. Wall above. Is there a wall located directly |
| the wall to other structural elements. Needless to | | | | above the wall you want to remove, on the floor |
| say, if you decide to remove a load-bearing wall | | | | above? If there is, then your wall is almost |
| you will need to plan for additional costs and seek | | | | certainly load-bearing. To determine this without |
| professional advice. | | | | doing any demolition, simply locate the walls by |
| Caveat: this information is intended to guide | | | | measuring from common elements on each floor |
| homeowners living in a typical newer, | | | | such as a stairway opening or exterior wall. |
| professionally built, North American style wood | | | | 3. Roof trusses above. If the wall you want to |
| frame house. If your home is very old and/or has | | | | remove is on the top floor of your house, with |
| been subject to numerous additions and | | | | only the roof or unoccupied attic space above, |
| alterations over the years, or is built from other | | | | you will need to verify if it is helping to support |
| less-common materials, this information should still | | | | any part of the roof structure. If your roof |
| be helpful, but you may have an unusual existing | | | | structure is made from factory manufactured |
| structural condition beyond the scope of this | | | | roof trusses as most modern roofs are, it will |
| article. | | | | likely bear on your exterior walls. Or your roof |
| So then, how can one tell if a wall is load-bearing | | | | could be stick-built, meaning completely cut and |
| or not. First, let's agree on what the phrase | | | | constructed piece by piece on site. Either way, it |
| "load-bearing" means. Simply put, it means "it is | | | | is possible that the wall you want to remove |
| responsible for carrying the weight (load) of any | | | | contributes, in some way, to carrying part of the |
| other part of the house other than itself" | | | | weight of your roof. To determine if this is the |
| Anything that is not bolted down or fixed to the | | | | case, you will need to get into the attic space and |
| building does not count, such as furniture, | | | | locate the wall below. Similar to items 1 and 2 |
| appliances, etc. | | | | above, is there anything bearing on your wall, |
| Structural engineers generally define the following | | | | such as ceiling joists, columns or a wall within the |
| types of building "loads": | | | | attic space? If not, then your wall is probably not |
| | | | load-bearing. |
| 1. The "dead load" is the total weight of all the | | | | 4. Column above. If there is a column bearing on |
| structural components, the fixtures and | | | | your wall, then there should be a column buried in |
| permanently attached equipment of a building, | | | | the wall you want to remove, and the load of |
| including its foundations. | | | | that column should be transferred to a column |
| 2. The "live load" is the weight that is | | | | under it right down to the foundation. If this is the |
| superimposed on the structural components of a | | | | case, you may be able to remove the wall, but |
| building by the use and occupancy of the building | | | | not the column embedded within the wall. |
| such as furniture, appliances and people (and the | | | | Also consider the possibility that the wall you |
| activities of people). This will be different for | | | | want to remove contains plumbing pipes, |
| different rooms. For example, your living room | | | | ductwork (especially return ducts or small vents), |
| (unless it's on a concrete slab on grade) is | | | | or electrical wiring that may need to be rerouted. |
| probably not designed to carry the weight of | | | | There items alone could make removing the wall |
| your car, while the garage floor is. | | | | more hassle than its worth. |
| 3. There is also a "snow load" that engineers take | | | | These are some of the more common conditions |
| into account in certain regions. The snow load is | | | | to look for when evaluating the load bearing |
| stipulated by the local building code and ensures | | | | possibility of any wall being considered for |
| that the roof structure is capable of carrying the | | | | removal. This should be done early in your project |
| weight of snow in addition to its own "dead load". | | | | while you are in the planning stage. If you find out |
| Your house will have been designed to carry its | | | | that your wall is load bearing, you will need to be |
| own dead load, the anticipated live load, and | | | | creative and find another way to achieve what |
| perhaps a snow load of some kind. | | | | you are looking for, or else consult an expert and |
| So back to the original question. It may seem like | | | | plan for additional costs. It is always possible to |
| common sense, but it pays to remember that | | | | work within the structural limitations we have |
| buildings are built from the ground up. Starting | | | | been given, so I encourage you to consider other |
| with the footings and foundation, then the first | | | | ways to achieve the result you want. Oftentimes, |
| floor level, first floor walls, second floor level, | | | | when we are forced to rethink our original idea, |
| second floor walls and then the roof (or some | | | | we come up with a better, more economical and |
| variation of this depending on the configuration of | | | | easy to construct solution. |
| the house). Load-bearing structural elements | | | | This advice is intended as a general guide only and |
| carry, in addition to their own weight, the weight | | | | cannot substitute for an in-person visual inspection |
| (dead load) of something above it. Which is where | | | | of your home. Prior to beginning any demolition |
| you need to look things such as: | | | | you must satisfy yourself as to the structural |
| | | | design of your home. If you are uncertain about |
| 1. Floor joists from the floor above | | | | the particular condition of your house, please |
| 2. A wall above | | | | consult an expert such as architect, engineer or |
| 3. Roof trusses above | | | | an experienced and qualified house framer. |