Load-bearing vs. non load-bearing walls is a huge topic, near and dear to many homeowners' hearts. It can make all the difference between getting that beautiful, big kitchen, bath, or family room that you've always wanted...or not.
Load-bearing walls not only act like walls but structural supports, too. Non load-bearing walls (also called partition walls) only act as walls. They do not carry the load of anything above them.
How do you determine if a wall is load-bearing or not? It's harder than you might think, comes with a countless set of rules and tips, and often requires the eye of an experienced contractor or structural engineer.
If you're dealing with a multi-level house, one quick tip to keep in mind is to check the level directly below the wall you're trying to figure out.
Partition walls may have no wall on the level directly below them to continue the vertical support. Closets are a good example of these types of walls. Closets built as "bump-outs" will typically have no matching walls on the level below. That's because these are mere partition walls and do not need continuous vertical support below.
Please Note: This is just one small tip in the larger world of determining load-bearing walls.
Determining load-bearing walls does require professional expertise. I have stories of pros who even get it wrong the first time. Once again, it is money well spent to bring in an experienced contractor or structural engineer to look at your walls. Pulling out a load-bearing wall can be devastating in terms of cost, damage to your house, and your personal safety.
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Comments
Yes, load-bearing walls on the 2nd floor sometimes have a wall on the 1st floor in the same layout. Sometimes theres not a wall but a flush beam instead. You can’t see the flush beam unless you open up the ceiling of the 1st floor under the 2nd wall.