Can You Safely Remove My Wall? A Guide to Understanding Load Bearing Walls

Exploring Load-Bearing Walls: Identifying Signs and When to Consult a Licensed Engineer

In this section, we delve into the world of load-bearing walls. Discover key indicators to determine whether a wall is load-bearing or not, and learn when it's wise to seek the expertise of a licensed engineer.

Is it a load bearing wall or not? Who can answer that question? Pittsburgh Design & Engineering Can!

Load-Bearing or Non-Load-Bearing Walls: A Vital Decision

Many houses were constructed with an abundance of walls, which may not align with modern preferences. These walls often restrict and segment living spaces, and in today's world, larger kitchens with islands are becoming the norm. One solution to these challenges is removing walls to create open-concept layouts.

However, determining whether a wall is load-bearing or not can pose a significant challenge. If a wall is load-bearing, the next steps become crucial.

Here are some insights for our readers:

Load-Bearing Wall Identification: Identifying whether a wall is load-bearing is essential. Even though people might assume it's easy by following the joist orientation, it's worth noting that a wall can still be load-bearing if it supports the floor from two floors above, especially when there are changes in joist direction, like in a third-floor "attic space."

Installing a Load-Bearing Beam: If a wall is confirmed to be load-bearing, the recommended course of action is to replace it with a load-bearing beam. This beam should be meticulously designed to support a continuous span, ensuring both strength and minimal deflection. It must effectively carry the load from upper levels, then transfer it to the lower support system while maintaining the proper load path. Furthermore, it's crucial to determine if any reinforcements are necessary on the lower levels.

Involving a Structural Engineer: Typically, this process requires hiring a structural engineer to evaluate, calculate, and provide stamped drawings for permit application. Such changes are considered structural modifications, and most jurisdictions mandate permits, stamped drawings, and the involvement of a licensed and qualified contractor to perform the work.

Making the distinction between a load-bearing and non-load-bearing wall may seem straightforward when following joist orientation, but it can be more complex in practice. Walls parallel to joist layouts can still be load-bearing, especially when supporting floors from multiple stories above, especially in cases where the joist direction changes, as in third-floor "attic spaces."

If you're facing such decisions or need assistance with structural modifications, don't hesitate to reach out to professionals who can guide you through the process.

Improperly supported joists

Important Considerations During the Process:

1. Adding Heavier Loads: It's crucial to remember that when incorporating a heavier load, like an island in the kitchen, you must ensure that the floor below can adequately support the additional weight. In many older homes, the joists often span beyond the current standard by 1 or 2 feet. This can lead to a significant sag, which may not become apparent until several months or even up to a year after construction is completed.

2. Load-Bearing Beams: When installing a load-bearing beam, it's essential to verify that your support posts are designed correctly. Properly engineered posts are equally important in transferring the load. Depending on the design load or weight of your beam, using two 2x4s may not be equivalent to using a single 4x4.

3. Inspecting Old Wood Beams: Lastly, it's crucial to inspect older, potentially fatigued wood beams in your basement. Ensure that the point load added from a single post above does not exceed their capacity. This becomes especially critical if your basement is damp and lacks humidity control. While you may not be changing the overall load, you are redistributing it to specific parts of the beam's span.

For further assistance or inquiries, please don't hesitate to call us at 724-949-0004.

Visit our website at www.pittdes.com.

Written by Firas Abdelahad, P.E.

Firas Abdelahad has been a practicing structural engineer since 2005, collaborating with a diverse range of professionals, including consultants, architects, investors, homeowners, contractors, and subcontractors. Together, they tackle the various challenges that can arise during the design and construction phases of projects.

The information and statements in this document are for information purposes only and do not comprise the professional advice of the author or create a professional relationship between reader and author.

Investing in Flipped or Rehabbed Houses

Flipped house ;)

Flipped and Rehabbed Houses: What to Look for Before You Buy

People often ask me about my thoughts on flipped or rehabbed houses, and my answer is that it depends. This leads to several important questions:

• Have any structural changes been made to the house? If so, were these modifications engineered and permitted?

• Were any structural elements reinforced, and if so, was this reinforcement engineered and permitted?

• Was the foundation in good condition, and were the foundation walls dry before refinishing the basement?

To all my valued clients, rehabbing a house can be likened to a football game. You’ll encounter both talented, experienced players and rookies.

I’ve had the privilege of working with both types of clients. I’ve learned valuable lessons from experienced clients and have provided guidance, calculations, and necessary drawings to assist rookies in obtaining the required structural permits for their projects.

While I’ve seen many perfectly rehabbed houses, I’ve also come across flipped houses with structural issues. I once had a client contact me regarding significant sags in the floor, wall cracks, and doors that didn’t close properly. After a site visit, it became evident that the wall below the affected area might not have been replaced with a properly sized beam. This suspicion was confirmed when the client removed the drywall, revealing an incorrectly sized beam for the span between supports, along with a splice in the beam between supports.

Allow me to offer some advice:

For investors, I highly recommend collaborating with a qualified structural engineer when making structural modifications. The cost of engineering services is relatively minor when compared to the overall project cost, especially when you consider the potential risks of undiscovered issues down the road.

For prospective homebuyers, it’s essential to ask questions about the work done on the house, request before-and-after photos, and inquire about any structural modifications and permits obtained.

Feel free to reach out to us today for further assistance at 724-949-0004, or visit our website at www.pittdes.com.

Written by Firas Abdelahad, P.E.

Firas Abdelahad has been a practicing structural engineer since 2005, collaborating with a diverse range of professionals, including consultants, architects, investors, homeowners, contractors, and subcontractors. Together, they tackle the various challenges that can arise during the design and construction phases of projects.

The information and statements in this document are for information purposes only and do not comprise the professional advice of the author or create a professional relationship between reader and author.

FISH TANK WEIGHT IMPACT ON LIVING ROOM FLOOR

Do I need a structural engineer to evaluate if I can add a fish tank in my house ?

Fish Tank

I often get requests from different clients about the impact of an added fish tank to their living room floor. Generally speaking a small tank may have negligible impact but often times people wants to add rather bigger size tank.

Evaluating the floor joists and floor ability to support such an additional weight is a wise decision to prevent sagging floor, even if you think your floor joists are currently healthy and don't have any sag.

I made a small example of how to calculate the weight and determine if your floor can support the weight or not. The bigger the area you distribute the weight over, the less of an impact on the floor and its supporting joists.

I hope you find the information valuable and helpful.

Calculations sheet

Call us today if you need any further assistance: 724-949-0004

www.pittdes.com

Written by Firas Abdelahad, P.E.

Firas Abdelahad has been a practicing structural engineer since 2005, collaborating with a diverse range of professionals, including consultants, architects, investors, homeowners, contractors, and subcontractors. Together, they tackle the various challenges that can arise during the design and construction phases of projects.

The information and statements in this document are for information purposes only and do not comprise the professional advice of the author or create a professional relationship between reader and author.