Load-bearing wall — Do you know how to identify it?

Do you know how to tell if a wall is load-bearing? Like most people, you don't. What about an interior load-bearing wall? It's also a tough question, and after all, you're not a structural engineer. That's why you should follow us to find out more.

When building a new home or renovating, chances are you'll have a wall to remove. Before you begin, consider whether the exterior wall is likely to carry a load.

Home renovation that requires the demolition of a wall is not a beginner's DIY project. Identifying load-bearing walls and non-load-bearing walls is a task for a structural engineer. When working on floor or roof structures, your renovation plans should pay particular attention to your load-bearing walls.

Unlike your last DIY project where you converted wicker baskets into shoe racks, a home improvement project is slightly more complex. With interior walls, temporary walls, and even non-load-bearing walls, you'll need to hire the services of a structural engineer.

History of load-bearing walls

Load-bearing masonry construction was common in building construction beginning in the 1700s. It was practiced until the middle of the 20th century. Today, it only applies to residential construction.

Basically, it consists of thick, heavy brick or stone walls that support entire structures. The walls include horizontal floor slabs, reinforced by concrete, wood, or steel elements. In Europe, for example, with traditional load-bearing structures, floor slabs are beams, joists, and horizontal planks made of wood.

With suburban home architecture, a wall is load-bearing when its load-bearing capacity is at the maximum capacity of a structural element or material to bear the load before a failure occurs. In lightweight construction known as “platform frame.” The load-bearing walls rest on a wall support plate, which is coupled to the lower base plate. Later, the supports are bolted to the foundation.

Differences between load-bearing wall and partition wall

A partition divides space and has no responsibility for its structure and strength. When you remove one, such as in an unfinished basement, for example, it won't impact the structure of a building. Even if the walls are parallel or perpendicular, they are more adaptable, easier to move, and less expensive.

Partition walls are made of plasterboard or plaster. Walls offer greater flexibility, they are easy to move, and they are cheap.

The load-bearing walls are wooden. The mistake some people make is to assume that they are non-load-bearing walls because they are not part of the masonry.

Exterior walls and interior walls

Identifying load-bearing walls is not difficult if you are a professional contractor. You need to know where a load-bearing wall is located.

It's going to be either an external or an internal load. When working with an original building, this means that it will be either on an exterior wall or on an interior wall. The load on an exterior wall with free-range trusses will have half the load on each wall.

Lintel size

When determining a header size load-bearing wall, measure the span in feet and add two to that number. A home improvement project that includes separate rooms will require a thorough inspection. Ceiling joists determine whether a wall is perpendicular or parallel to the joists. If a wall is load-bearing and it is an interior load-bearing wall, your floor or roof structure will need temporary walls parallel to your roof structure.

What is a load-bearing wall?

A load-bearing wall or non-load-bearing wall is a structural element of the original building. It is not simply a separator, but a crucial element in the structural integrity of the building. A load-bearing wall is perpendicular to the weight of the structural elements that overhang it.

It uses the foundation underneath to support the weight it needs to support. It therefore uses a load-bearing foundation to support it, allowing it to carry the load above.

In skyscrapers, load-bearing walls are made of steel. Or at least the frame is. But in housing, they are most often made of wood, brick or stone. This is different from a retaining wall, which supports the weight of traffic rather than structures.

What if a wall is probably load-bearing or non-load-bearing?

The importance of load-bearing walls is not one you want to ignore. After all, a house needs several load-bearing walls or it will collapse. Non-load-bearing walls can be removed and will not affect the integrity of the house.

But a load-bearing wall cannot simply be removed unless you are prepared to risk the safety of your family. One can be removed, but only when a new one is built to replace it.

How do you know if a wall is load-bearing or non-load-bearing

If you plan to remove exterior walls by removing a load support, you are indicating whether a wall is likely to support a load. There are several ways to find out.

When it comes to knocking down the wall, it's important that you see a professional. Even if you only consult them before you start, it's better than being overwhelmed with whether or not structural integrity is maintained.

The first thing to look for are the support beams. If you have a basement, it's an easy way to spot them. Any beam or pillar in the basement is surmounted by load-bearing walls. But if you don't have a basement, things are more difficult.

What you can do is see if you can find a crawl space under your house. If there is one, you can find support walls and beams underneath that will have load-bearing walls above them. Do not remove these walls without the help of a professional.

Note: Most support beams are made of steel or concrete.