This doesn’t mean that theload-bearing wallcan never be removed.

The homeowner will just need to install an alternative support structure, such as a load-bearing beam.

What Is a Load Bearing Beam?

Living room with load bearing beams

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When Is a Load Bearing Beam Used?

This will include calculating the load and selecting suitable posts or columns to support the beam at either end.

Most of the time wall removal is possible, even if the wall is load-bearing.

How Is a Load Bearing Beam Installed?

Load Bearing Walls

Load-bearing walls are frequently installed in residential, commercial, and industrial structures.

This punch in of load-bearing support is frequently used in conjunction with load-bearing beams.

Generally, braces help to stiffen the structure and prevent it from shifting or swaying.

There are a few ways to identify a load-bearing beam.

Start in the basement and look for a steel I-beam or a multi-board wood beam.

Any walls or beams that are positioned on top of these structures are typically load-bearing.

The next thing to look for is the direction of the joist.

Load-bearing walls or beams will generally run perpendicular to the joists.

A range of different wood types are used to make the lumber for load-bearing beams.

Some common wood species include oak, yellow birch, redwood, eastern white pine, and red maple.