I have a 700 square-foot two story wood-frame house with a basement. (700ft per floor) I want to rearrange the internal layout of the 1st and 2nd floor. If load-bearing walls are preventing me from doing this, is it usually possible to somehow (with an architect and professional contractor) to work around the load-bearing walls or somehow change them? I just want to know what I'm getting into.
2006-10-28 07:58:20 · 7 answers · asked by Webby10003 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Decorating & Remodeling
you don't have to have a steel beem. if you are looking to remove bearing walls, you need to add headers. I assume that since you are removing walls you want a more open room and a steel beem would hang down below the ceiling causing a soffit in the middle of your new room. you want to install a new "flush Header", it is a header that will be installed even with your existing floor joists and fastened with tecos( metal brackets to make the connection structual) you had already said that you will hace an architect and contractor so i don't have to recommend them. the only thing that i will strongly recommend is do not remove any walls before you build temporary walls to support the ceiling around the wall you will be taking out.
2006-10-28 11:04:34 · answer #1 · answered by gojets126 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I did just that. I got rid of a load-bearing wall by having my builder go into the attic and create an I-beam to take the load. It won't show and you can then remove the wall beneath. (Do the I-beam first, though!) If it is between floors, you can hide the new beam with a dropped ceiling. Some people like the look of exposed beams, so if you want it to show, you can put the I-beam at ceiling height and decorate accordingly. Good luck.
2006-10-28 15:09:20 · answer #2 · answered by steviewag 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am removing part of a load bearing wall in my house. I am putting a header there and a post on each end. It will look nice.
2006-10-28 15:50:12 · answer #3 · answered by #3ontheway! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to replace it with some thing that will take up the load. You could install a steel beam with steel supports on both sides to take up the load.
2006-10-28 15:02:47 · answer #4 · answered by JD 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No big deal with enough money in the bank. But maybe when it's done you have to rearrange your lifestyle?
2006-10-28 16:07:53 · answer #5 · answered by Jazz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
gypsy is right throw in a beam problem solved.
2006-10-28 15:04:10 · answer #6 · answered by Aaron A 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it is possible cost will be the main factor
2006-10-28 15:03:21 · answer #7 · answered by knowitall 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋