Assessment of load-bearing wall in apartment

[Eeeeeva]

Hello! We are going to renovate the kitchen in our apartment and would like to tear down the wall into the living room to let in more light. Grateful if anyone here can assess whether the wall is load-bearing? The drawing shows our entire floor plan. The yellow square is our apartment and the red ring shows which wall is in question. Thank you in advance for your responses!

 

[justusandersson]

Hello and welcome to the Byggahus forum!

Unfortunately, it's not possible to determine just from this drawing. You need to look at a reinforcement drawing for the slab above to be sure, unless it's a stud wall made of wood. Such a wall is never load-bearing for a concrete slab. You can easily determine what kind of wall it is by tapping on the wall.

 

[Eeeeeva]

Hello and welcome to Byggahus forum!

Unfortunately, it is not possible to determine solely with the help of this drawing. You need to look at a reinforcement drawing for the slab above to be sure, unless it is a wooden stud wall. Such a wall is never load-bearing for a concrete slab. What sort of wall it is can be easily determined by knocking on the wall.

Thank you very much for the answer Justus! Ok, I understood that it wouldn't be that simple The wall is made of concrete, unfortunately. Should the association be able to provide reinforcement drawings, or how do you obtain them? When I contacted the municipality, they referred us to hire a structural engineer, but if there are no drawings, then that person can't determine if the wall is load-bearing or not, right?

 

[BORNER]

The city planning office usually has drawings unless the association has made copies.

 

[HomeboY]

The city planning office usually has drawings unless the association has obtained copies.

There is often a digital archive where you can find new and older documentation.

 

[justusandersson]

In the municipal archives, the reinforcement drawings are definitely available, but not necessarily in digital form. However, it is doubtful whether it is worth the effort to look at them. Since it is a concrete wall in its existing position, the likelihood is very high that it is load-bearing. But of course, it's always nice to know how it stands. When was the house built?

 

[Eeeeeva]

In the municipality's archive, the reinforcement drawings are guaranteed to exist, but not necessarily in digital form. However, it is doubtful whether it is worth the effort to look at them. Since it is a concrete wall that is in its current position, the probability is very high that it is load-bearing. But of course, it's always fun to find out. When was the house built?

Thanks for the reply. I have sent a new inquiry to the municipality asking if they have the drawings. The house was built in 1966.

 

[wirrewes]

Have you received any response from the kommunen?