How Do You Replace A Load Bearing Wall With A Beam?

A load bearing wall supports the weight of additional floors and roofs. A simple way to determine whether a wall is load-bearing is to look in the attic for the direction of the joists. If a wall is running parallel to them then it probably isn't load-bearing, while if it is running perpendicular to the joists it might be or should be treated as if it is. If you can't tell if a wall is load-bearing have a structural engineer look at your house's structure. Some load-bearing walls can be replaced with beams. It all depends on the weight and span of the load. All support beams are rated according to their load and span capacities, and most lumber yards can tell you what size beam you will need. Remove everything from the room being renovated and cover the floor surface if it is in good condition and needs to be protected. Remove all wallboard on your load-bearing wall so that you can clearly see what's in the wall. If it has an internal support post in addition to standard studs then ...  more