Can I knock out an interior wall or does my house need it for support?

Question

I would like to remove and build some walls in other places to change room shapes and sizes. Also do you have any tips in doing this? Like what to use and what to watch out for and what i will need and how to.

Answer 1

definitely ask a professional if it is a support wall before you knock down anything

you have to watch out for electrical too...

Answer 2

Usually the main wall that runs down the hallway is the supporting wall. Best thing to do, so you don't have to rip anywalls down, is to ask a professional, even someone who works as a carpenter or construction, they have special ways of finding supporting walls.

Answer 3

First go up in your attic space and see if your roof is framed with pre-manufactured roof trusses, or is it stick framed with individual rafters,ceiling joist.

If you see a main ridge board at the peak that runs the length of the house then you almost certainly have a"stick framed" roof system.

This means that the rafters and the ceiling joists are separate and the ceiling joists most likely rest on interior walls that run parallel to the long outside walls of the house.

If you have roof trusses - most likely none of your interior walls are load bearing (well they do support weight, but not much).

Just remember when you remove a wall you have the finish flooring to patch,the ceiling to patch,the intersecting points of the walls to patch, and re-routing of any electrical wiring, plumbing, ductwork.

If it is a load bearing wall you can install a support header to span the new opening. Use 2" x 12" lumber or and "lvl" pre made beam. Just make sure the 2 ends supporting the header have adequate support under them at the ends.

You can also install an above the ceiling header, however this is labor intensive, usually about 4 times the labor, but we have done this. This lets the ceiling flow between 2 rooms at the same level without a header sticking down.

If you need to install a support header - build a temporary wall back about 2' from where the wall is coming out - do this on both sides. Put a pc of rigid styrofoam on the ceiling where the temp wall goes. then a top plate,then studs and a bottom plate. Put a diagonal brace on each side. Take wall out, Put header in, then remove temporary wall.