Planning a remodel: how do I know whether I can remove a wall or not?
L T asked:
I want to make part of my house into an efficiency apartment that I can rent out. To make it nice I would need to move some walls. But how do I know if the existing walls are weight bearing or not?? I assume that would greatly influence the cost and difficulty of moving them. If they’re NOT essential to the structure of the house, I can probably know them down and build the new ones myself, eh?
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I want to make part of my house into an efficiency apartment that I can rent out. To make it nice I would need to move some walls. But how do I know if the existing walls are weight bearing or not?? I assume that would greatly influence the cost and difficulty of moving them. If they’re NOT essential to the structure of the house, I can probably know them down and build the new ones myself, eh?
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February 26th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
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Just try it, if the house collapses or other walls fall down, then you probably shouldn’t have knocked down the wall you chose =)
February 27th, 2009 at 11:55 am
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you should ask someone in construction. I think it would be smarter for you not to do it by yourself!
March 2nd, 2009 at 12:06 am
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Time to ask a contractor to take a peek. The only way to determine a load bearing wall is look at its placement and then examine the structure above and around the wall which usually means removing drywall, or plaster so you can see.
It is a safe bet an exterior wall is load bearing, long walls near the center of a roof or second floor may also be load bearing.
Don’t cut what you don’t know…
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:07 pm
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Climb into the roof space and see if the wall frame is supporting any of the roof timbers.
March 4th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
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look in your attic, if your rafters are not on the wall you want to move you,ll be OK. if its a two story home you can most likely move any wall but the center wall that runs down the middle of your home.
March 4th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
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Load bearing walls run the same direction as the peak in your roof. You can also go to the courthouse and get the original house plans.
March 5th, 2009 at 8:16 am
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CALL AND ASK LOWES
March 6th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
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Look at your roof outside. Now imagine a straight line straight down from the peak running parallel with the peak. Supporting wall. Could be two (as a hallway) That basically stays. otherwise the house of cards collapses.