How can I indentify load bearing walls? Is there a way to be absolutely sure?

Answer 1

The safest was to be absolutely sure is to have an engineer/architect tell you. It is fairly inexpensive, particularly when considering the damage you can cause your home and yourself if you alter a wall you "thought" was not load bearing.

Contrary to the answer above mine, there are many factors involved beyond whether your ceiling joists run parallel to the wall in question.

If your home is built with roof trusses rather than framing, a wall parallel to the joists may not be load bearing.

If your house has a second story, walls that do not run parallel to joists may still be load bearing.

If your home has an addition, an interior wall may actually be a "stealth" bearing wall because it was an exterior wall, and structurally still is.

This question comes up frequently, and each time it does I see answers from people who do not know enough to give an opinion.

This is far too important, and far too dangerous, a matter for anyone to answer without being in your house. Even then, many carpenters and contractors frequently get it wrong.

I reiterate - I strongly suggest you pay an engineer/architect to answer this for you.

GOOD LUCK :)

Answer 2

Go into the attic and check where the roof timbers connect together in the center. The walls under this connection are load bearing walls. You will ALWAYS have a load bearing wall in the center (lengthwise) of the structure and one on each side. Basically, there is a load-bearing wall beneath every peak in the roof. And ALL outside walls are always load-bearing. There MAY be others if you have a roof that is not just a simple "A" frame or in very wide structures.

Bert

Answer 3

You simply cannot be sure without seeing
the structure. Even then, it's a job for a 'pro`.
Start in the basement.
Any walls over beams or column lines may
be assumed to be load bearing.
This does not necessarily eliminate all other walls.
You have to know framing, even to make an
educated guess.

Answer 4

first of all all exterior walls are load bearing.....all walls that have beams ontop of them are load bearing.you can see the beams in the basement and attic