Bearing Walls

I just wanted to review for a few of you, the happenings of the walls in the home you will be evaluating, in hopes you will have a better understanding. I get several who ask, “How can you tell what walls you can remove and what walls you should leave alone”.
Wood frame walls are very common in single-family residential properties. Load bearing wood frame walls carry floor or roof loads from above. Partition (non-load bearing) walls don not. However, they are built the same way. Both have bottom plates, studs and double top plates, typically.
How can you tell whether it’s a load bearing or partition wall? The answer lies in what’s above and below them.
1. Partition walls have no structural elements beneath them to transfer the loads to the foundations and footings.
2. Load bearing walls must have foundations, beams and columns, or another wall system below them to transfer the loads to the soil.
3. Load bearing walls have ends of floor or ceiling joists resting on them. Partition walls don’t.
4. If there is another wall directly or almost directly above the wall, it’s probably a bearing wall. When removing the wall would remove the support for structural members above, it’s a load bearing wall.
5. Door openings in partition walls do not normally require lintels (Headers). Openings in loadbearing walls do need lintels.

Always ask a qualified contractor, if you should have any doubt, if a wall can be removed or not.

HAPPY REHABBING!!!!