Load Bearing Wall

Hi All,

I would like to remove a wall that separates my living room and den. They are on the main floor of a 2 story house.

How can I tell if it is a load bearing wall? Want to do this without cutting holes if I can...or at least try to.

In by basement I have the posts that hold up the beam, this beam runs from the back of the house to the front, pretty much right in the center of the house. The joists then run left to right.

The wall I am trying to remove does not cross that beam in the basement. I can tell it runs in from the center of that beam (there is a wall running parallel to that beam on the the main floor) to the right side of the house. It is 12 feet in length if that makes a difference.

Also if I do have to cut a hole in it to double check where is the best place to do this...center and top of wall?

Thanks for any help and pointers!

Rawky.

 

If the wall you want to remove is directly on top of the main beam and is going in the same direction, it's load bearing. I suggest you have an architect look at it before you start cutting. You need to know what size header is needed and if it can be done at all.

 

Also, is there a wall on the 2nd floor right above the wall you wanna rip out?? If so, you may not be able to do this. I have walls like this in my house, if I recall its called balloon framing.

Look at your joists in the basement, the way they run (ex. north/south or east/west) the joists between the 1st and 2nd floor probably run the same way. They do in my 1940's house anyway.
GOOD LUCK

 

Pulpo - no it is not directly on top of it. It T's to it, but doesn't cross it at all. The joists and the wall I want to remove run east to west, where is the beam is north to south.

diyplank - I looked at it and yes there is a wall directly above it, that wall separates my master room and child's room.

 

Did you plan to remove the wall and replace it with a header or just remove it and leave it?

 

Well I would hire a architect/engineer. B/c if the wall studs on the 2nd floor are the same studs on the first floor then I am not sure if you can do this. I am no contractor or anything, but that is a concern for me in my future project to open up the floor plan in our house, by knocking out the wall between the kitchen and dining room. There is a wall right above the one I wanna knock out and I am not sure I can do that, even if I put a header in? I am going to have to hire someone for that! Gonna be a costly remodel but will be well worth it.

GOOD LUCK and keep us posted!!

 

Hi Rawky, I read your posts twice and I don't see the problem. Not balloon, as it would typically be setting on something, not just the floor over a basement. And the balloon construction for the rest of the house would be easily visible around the rim on top of the foundation. Since the wall in question is T’ed off or perpendicular to the main beam, doubtful it is a load bearing wall.

All that said, you should still have a pro come in, but it may only be a day’s job or less.

Sorry if my opinion differs, corrections welcome.
Bud

 

Hi All,

I plan on remove the wall completley. I will only leave a header if it is necessary. I decided there is enough guessing going around!!

One thing I forgot is there is a cold air return for my master bedroom that is right above the wall, and it comes from all the way down. This means there is no support at the top between those two studs.

Attached are some pictures, 1 is where the whole is in the wall I want to remove, 2 and 3 are of the right side of the wall (8 feet remaining)...looks like there is some sort of venting near the end. And 4 is the left side of the wall.

 

So this is the part i would be removing...

 

You lost me on the camera angle. What direction are we looking at and where was it taken?

 

Structurally speaking, the wall you outlined in red can be removed as long as there are no other areas where there is a point load on it, which you will only know by taking all the drywall off. It does not support any joist since it runs parralell to the joist. On the other hand, how do you intend on getting the return air from the bedroom to your HVAC system? You should not remove the wall if you can't get the return another way.

 

Bill - there is another wall to the left of that wall that has space where I can route the venting too. I might have to leave a bit of the wall at the top, if i do i will do the same to the otherside to match and add some trim to match my home.

Pulpo, If you look at the shot of the wall itself where the hole is you will see a 2x4 up top right. That is the red marking 2x4. It is the top of the wall.

I am going to tear down some more drywall tonight...i love demolition!

I was told to get a jackpost though till all the drywall is down and it is confirmed it is not load bearing.

 

Ok so here are some more pics!! Highlighted the sides so maybe its easier to see....