Determine Load Bearing Walls

[flip_it_fast]

I was curious as to how you determine which walls in a house are load bearing?

These days, most people want open floor plans which you don't typically find in older homes. Therefore, in order to accomplish an open feel you have to remove walls. But which walls can be removed and which ones can not?

I know the load bearing walls will be the outside walls and usually the center wall but thats not always the case.

Is it determined by the run of the floor joists?

I'd sure hate to tear into a wall and have the ceiling and roof above fall on my head!!!

[realestatehound]

Their is a lot goes into determining load bearing walls. How big the house is, has there been any additions. Take a 1100 sq. ft. ranch, it is the center wall that goes down the middle of the home. Then if you look at a 2000 SQ. Ft. home that is all cut up you might have 5 or 6 load bearing walls. You really have to just look at each house. Sorry I couldn't give you a better answer.

[badmomma]

That is quite the question and a real quandry. I would get an inspector or contractor to come in and help with that one.

It would be a real shame to loose the whole house to one swipe of a sledge hammer. OOPS!

Good luck!

[badmomma]

Heres a video that might help to answer some of the questions that you have about load bearing walls.

You Tube

I hope this helps you and I myself found it to be educational but I don't believe that I myself stand a chance of finding the original blueprints for my home so getting help would probably be my best bet.

[flip_it_fast]

Thank both of you for the great information. The video was great too but ya, I better leave the determining of load bearing walls to someone else lol. I better just stay clear of the sledge lol.