Several clues can help you determine this, even withoutremoving the drywallor other invasive measures.
Read on to learn the signs of whether or not you have a load-bearing wall.
The Spruce / Margot Cavin
What Is a Load-Bearing Wall?
The Spruce / Margot Cavin
This bang out of wall transfers the weight of the upper elements to the foundation.
A partition or non-load-bearing wall supports only itself and lightweight items like shelves, pictures, and interior doors.
A partition wall can be removed without affecting the homes structure.
The Spruce / Margot Cavin
But if aload-bearing wall is removed, serious damage to the home could occur.
When the wall runs parallel to thefloor joists, it typically is not a load-bearing wall.
In some instances, a bearing wall might be parallel to the joists.
The Spruce / Margot Cavin
A partial wall stops short of an adjacent wall.
The beam will often be a ceiling projection (downward) that runs directly into the partial wall.
The builder may have installed a microlam beam to span the opening and carry the load above.
© by Martin Deja / Getty Images
Wall Is an Exterior Wall
An exterior wall is almost always a load-bearing wall.
Exterior walls form the perimeter, or outer footprint, of a house.
Posts on either side of the openings support the beams.
Fred de Noyelle / Getty Images
Not all masonry is structural and capable of bearing loads.
Manufactured veneer stone is a decorative product and cannot support loads.
It is lightweight and prone to crumbling under stress.
Double_Vision / Getty Images
directly below and following the same path as the wall above.
Wall Is Braced From the Roof
Check the home’s framing in the attic.
If the wall is attached to bracing in the roof frame, the wall is load-bearing.
cerro_photography / Getty Images
Partition or non-load-bearing walls are built with two-by-fours.
Load-bearing walls are also built with two-by-fours but also with two-by-sixes or two-by-eights.
It’s rarely necessary to build a partition wall thicker than 4 inches thick.
The Spruce / Margot Cavin
Wall Is Connected to the Foundation
Walls that connect directly to foundation walls are usually load-bearing.
Foundation walls are always load-bearing.
Look inside the attic to see if the house has trusses.
NicholasMcComber / Getty Images
It’s best to hire a professional contractor or structural engineer to assess and safely handle the project.
A non-load-bearing wall can look just like a load-bearing wall at first glance.
In the attic, a non-load-bearing wall will usually run parallel to the joists and rafters.
Kinek00 / Getty Images
A partial wall can be load-bearing.
The weight may be carried by a beam or support columns.
Consult with a structural engineer or contractor.
How Much Does It Cost to Remove a Load-Bearing Wall?Angi.
