How To Tell A Load Bearing Wall

Generally when the wall in question runs parallel to the floor joists above it is not a load-bearing wall.

How to tell a load bearing wall. The load-bearing walls would be above those beams. To determine if a wall is a load-bearing one Tom suggests going down to the basement or attic to see which way the joists run. Such walls have to be much thicker towards the base where maximum loads assemble.

Any walls beneath these beams are probably also load bearing. If it is a small home usually roof framing is in one direction only NorthSouth or EastWest. HttpsyoutubeKWIHdWjPKC0 Tools we recommend.

If the wall in question is on the second floor look to see if there is a. While you may think a column or post at the end of a wall is just for looks it might also indicate that its a load bearing wall. The important thing to remember is that if a wall is load bearing it is transferring that load to something underneath it.

The best way to tell if a wall is load bearing is to go in the atticceiling space to see if there is any framing joistsraferstrusses supported by that wall. Load-bearing walls inside the building typically run parallel to the ridge. A wall directly above those beams and any walls directly above those walls are probably load-bearing.

Outside walls are almost always load bearing as are some interior walls although this is where problems tend to arise. Look At The Floor Joists If you can see the floor joists either from the basement looking up to the first floor or from the attic looking down to the floor below note their direction. Check the location of walls above or below the wall in question.

A beam that is attached or sunk into the concrete foundation of the house is part of a load-bearing wall. Start at the lowest point of the house. Look for an internal wall thats near the relative center of your house.