How much does it cost to hire a structural engineer to tell me if a wall is load-bearing?

Question

I want to tear down a wall, but I'd like to consult with a structural engineer first.

Answer 1

We have a large steel beam running the length of our basement below our bearing wall.  Do you have something like that in your basement or crawl space?

Answer 2

Any decent carpenter or builder can give you that info. You hardly need a structual engineer.

   Answer one offers the most valid clue in a DIY sense. If you have access to an area above the wall/ceiling, you can check it yourself. If it's load bearing it should be running perpendicular to the beams/ joists/ floor trusses above the wall.

Just my two "sense"

Answer 3

hmm no clue but go look in the attic does the wall go straight up all the way to the roof.. if so it is .. if it is only half way up.. or doesn't go past the ceiling then no it isn't

Answer 4

easy way to tell if a wall is load bearing or not.

Usually not always but typically if the wall runs perpendicular to the roof rafters (90 degree angle) than it is load bearing. If it is parrallel then not.

As for a structural engineer I would guess in the neighborhood of $350 to $500 for him to come look and see.

A good contractor would be able to do the same thing and popssibly for alot less.

Answer 5

You don't need an Engineer. I wish I knew more about your house.

Load bearing walls generally run perpendicular to your ceiling rafters and generally run through the middle of your house.

If you have a basement check  where the columns are. If they are directly below a wall upstairs then that wall is load bearing.

If the interior walls in your house are mostly wood but one is concrete, that is your load bearing wall. If none of this helps, just ask a carpenter.

Answer 6

In Vancouver Canada, I had a structural engineer come in to view, render an opinion and write a report on the removal of a wall. As this is in a condo, the board required it before renovations were allowed. The cost was $ 210.00 plus G.S.T.

Hope that answers the question