Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [load-bearing]

A load bearing wall supports the structure above it, and thus cannot be removed without replacing that support. Use with the [walls] tag

A load bearing wall holds up the ceiling or floor above it (i.e. it is a structural wall). Sometimes this means you must beef up the structure to replace it. In some cases, it means the wall cannot be removed at all.

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Are there ways to determine if a wall is load bearing?

Other than looking up blue prints, which many homeowners may not have, are there ways to determine if a wall is load bearing? Methods I can think of might include: Going up in the attic to check if ceiling trusses run perpendicular to the wall If…
Doresoom
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Is this cracking foundation under a jack post a problem that requires repair?

I am buying an already-built new home. I find this in the basement. The builder says it's okay, but I am really concerned. Is this really a big issue? What steps would be required to repair it? This house is close to the retention pond. Is that the…
John
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Is it unsafe to remove one stud from a load bearing wall?

I need to cut a hole for a recessed medicine cabinet. This wall is at the end of the house. I only need to cut one stud to make a frame for the cabinet. Will this damage the integrity of the bearing wall?
Sonia Leon
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How to calculate the maximum safe load on a horizontal wooden beam?

I am thinking of constructing a wooden bed/desk/roof/shed/ship/bridge/rocket How can I calculate the maximum load a rectangular horizontal wooden beam of dimensions L x H x W can safely support if the beam is adequately supported at both…
RedGrittyBrick
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Contractor cut joist hangers to make them fit

(edited with additional info re. header) We are removing a couple of load bearing walls as part of renos in our home. The engineer specified a W8x21steel beam to replace the load bearing wall. The floor joists are 2x10. It appears the contractor…
user105375
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Can I remove a wall stud to install a pet door?

We only have one option for a wall that the pet door would go in. After measuring we found that the door would have to go right in the middle of a stud. Is it safe to cut through the stud?
Mary mcintire
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Why mate two boards instead of using one thicker board?

I need to build a footbridge across a creek and, due to soft and low land around it, will need a long span crossing the creek. I found this tutorial by Ron Hazelton where he makes a bridge with a 12' span with two beams supporting it, with supports…
Tango
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Will my wooden bridge withstand the weight of my small truck?

I am building a bridge across a small stream. I have 3 hemlock planks that are 24 feet long, and are 6 inches by 4 inches in dimension. The hemlock planks are positioned so that the 6 inch sides are vertical, and the 4 inch sides are horizontal. The…
Richard Price
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Can I modify a load bearing triple stud?

I am installing a small safe in a wall and when I cut the opening in the drywall I noticed that the studs were in an unusual distribution. The stud on the right was normal but then there were multiple studs on the left - obviously a support column…
b-p
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Proper size of header to support new door in load bearing wall?

We're going to install a new linen closet off the hallway next to our recently(ish) remodeled bathroom. The wall in question is load bearing. I know how to properly build out the King and Jack studs, and if this weren't load bearing I'd just put in…
The Evil Greebo
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What is the purpose of horizontal blocks on a bearing wall?

In my basement, the bearing wall has horizontal blocks between each stud, similar to what you see in this picture: . There is one place on the wall where one of the blocks was removed to place an electrical box, and another in the bathroom rough-in…
Eric Andres
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Can I safely make a door frame taller?

UPDATE: April 22 What I ended up doing was removing the trim non-destructively. Above the door frame, it was clearly not load bearing, so I continued and was not so non-destructive. The end-result are doorways that are standard height (and I can…
Scribblemacher
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What's the purpose of this lumber resting on top plate of the wall?

Today I was doing some due diligence to open up an interior wall on the first floor or 2 story house built in 1968. The wall runs parallel to the joists so presumably is a non load bearing. When I cut a small part of the ceiling near the wall, I…
Chetan Narsude
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Resolve argument on load bearing walls

Here are both the builder blue prints and foundation plans. According to the plans all external walls and garage are load bearing and internal walls are not. There is no built up foundation/headers internally, only thickened on external walls. I…
JulsB6
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Framing an appliance opening in a load bearing wall?

I bought a fridge that is much too deep (first time buying a new house/new appliances) and unfortunately the appliance place does not take exchanges or returns. I am considering recessing the fridge into the wall and framing a door would be…
user35866
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