Identifying a load bearing wall


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Old 01-28-15, 08:13 PM
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Identifying a load bearing wall

I have to replace a stud in the wall that separates my kitchen from my garage. How do I know if it is a load bearing wall or not. I may not want to do it myself if it's a load bearing wall. How can I determine this without tearing the drywall out first.
 
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Old 01-28-15, 08:28 PM
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Go in the attic and look. Either way, if you are only replacing one stud, you have nothing to worry about.
 
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Old 01-28-15, 09:05 PM
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You will have to tear out drywall to replace stud.
As Sleeper said, it really doesn't matter if it's bearing or not. Taking out one stud will not effect anything in the short term. It's better the stud is replaced, but while doing so there are no precautions that need to be performed. Install new stud tight against sole plate and top plate and you are done.
 
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Old 01-29-15, 05:23 AM
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Go in the attic and look.
Just for informational purposes, how do you tell if it is load bearing or not
 
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Old 01-29-15, 06:21 AM
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If it is load bearing you will have rafters and/or ceiling joists resting on the top plate that are perpendicular to the wall.
 
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Old 01-29-15, 02:51 PM
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And if you have a basement there will be a wall exactly under the main-floor wall, holding up the whole load. If there's a basement but there's not the exactly matching wall, then the main-floor wall isn't load-bearing, to the best of my knowledge.
 
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Old 01-29-15, 03:07 PM
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in the wall that separates my kitchen from my garage
Good point marynurse but it doesn't really apply to his question... its quite rare for a basement to go under a garage.
 
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Old 01-30-15, 07:54 AM
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Hmmmmm......missed that word "garage", didn't I?
 
 

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