First, I have to say "Hello!" since this is my first post, and also flag that I might have put the thread in the wrong section, please feel free to move it if needed.
We have started several projects in our townhouse, and the biggest one is taking down the wall between the kitchen and the living room. The drywall mostly disappeared over the weekend, and now the wooden framework remains. The question we're asking ourselves now is whether the wall is load-bearing or not. Considering how it looks, I don't think it appears very load-bearing, but I'm not exactly an expert in the field. What do you say, surely there is someone here who knows more than I do...
http://www.shellkonto.nu/alien/temp/renovation_2.jpg
http://www.shellkonto.nu/alien/temp/renovation_5.jpg
Note that the wooden beam running along the ceiling is nailed to the drywall; these boards run from the living room into the kitchen. If the wall is load-bearing, wouldn't the drywall be crushed by the weight pressing down on it? A carpenter told us to saw a little into one of the vertical studs, and if you don't notice that the wood "grips" the saw, then there is no load, and it's not load-bearing.
We have started several projects in our townhouse, and the biggest one is taking down the wall between the kitchen and the living room. The drywall mostly disappeared over the weekend, and now the wooden framework remains. The question we're asking ourselves now is whether the wall is load-bearing or not. Considering how it looks, I don't think it appears very load-bearing, but I'm not exactly an expert in the field. What do you say, surely there is someone here who knows more than I do...
http://www.shellkonto.nu/alien/temp/renovation_2.jpg
http://www.shellkonto.nu/alien/temp/renovation_5.jpg
Note that the wooden beam running along the ceiling is nailed to the drywall; these boards run from the living room into the kitchen. If the wall is load-bearing, wouldn't the drywall be crushed by the weight pressing down on it? A carpenter told us to saw a little into one of the vertical studs, and if you don't notice that the wood "grips" the saw, then there is no load, and it's not load-bearing.
Based on your pictures, it doesn't look like a supporting wall. I feel that the wall was put up after the roof was made. To be more certain, it would be interesting to see the drawings. Do you have the possibility to post them? :-/
We have a blueprint, but it doesn't show any difference for any of the interior walls, so it's not much help.
We also called the municipality to ask them for better blueprints, but they said they didn't have any and laughed. I don't know if the person who answered had no clue at all, or if it differs from municipality to municipality what they have in their archives. My wife's family who lives in Dalarna did the same thing, called the municipality and got a blueprint from them.
Oh well, everyone we've asked says it's not load-bearing, so we'll just have to take a chance and trust what everyone thinks.
We also called the municipality to ask them for better blueprints, but they said they didn't have any and laughed. I don't know if the person who answered had no clue at all, or if it differs from municipality to municipality what they have in their archives. My wife's family who lives in Dalarna did the same thing, called the municipality and got a blueprint from them.
Oh well, everyone we've asked says it's not load-bearing, so we'll just have to take a chance and trust what everyone thinks.
With a high probability, it is not load-bearing, as the roof was put there first and the studs afterward (by studying the ceiling panels in the picture).
If the studs weren't there when the roof was laid, what held the roof up without it collapsing?
:-?
If the studs weren't there when the roof was laid, what held the roof up without it collapsing?
:-?
That's how I reasoned about the house I'm in now. Until it occurred to me that in 1947, they probably weren't stupid enough not to put up supports in the ceiling before installing the partition walls, to work more efficiently.moOd said:
But in this case, it looks like ceiling panels, and it would be surprising if they built load-bearing walls on these - isn't there an air gap behind these white ceiling panels?
By "behind" I assume you mean above? Don't know what it looks like, haven't been keen on making a hole to check the situation.MathiasS said:
What do you think about the test of sawing one of the vertical studs? If there doesn't seem to be any load and you can saw through a stud without any problems and then without much force separate the lower and upper halves, the upstairs and attic can't be resting on this wall...in my opinion. :
Member
· Västra Götaland
· 219 posts
Hi,
I may be off course here, but it looks like 70-reglar and you DON'T typically build load-bearing walls with those.
My father also has a townhouse, an end unit. We're brainstorming a bit about some renovations, and I can't seem to find any load-bearing walls. And those are ten-meter-long roof trusses.
Upstairs, there's a continuous wall that could be a heart wall. But the ground floor is completely open in the layout under that wall.
Directly under this first wall, there has always been a "beam" in the ceiling. But two years ago, when we put up a new ceiling, we saw that it was a fake beam. Just a regel that was nailed up and painted.
Good luck!
Mats
I may be off course here, but it looks like 70-reglar and you DON'T typically build load-bearing walls with those.
My father also has a townhouse, an end unit. We're brainstorming a bit about some renovations, and I can't seem to find any load-bearing walls. And those are ten-meter-long roof trusses.
Upstairs, there's a continuous wall that could be a heart wall. But the ground floor is completely open in the layout under that wall.
Directly under this first wall, there has always been a "beam" in the ceiling. But two years ago, when we put up a new ceiling, we saw that it was a fake beam. Just a regel that was nailed up and painted.
Good luck!
Mats
I have a similar problem (the post above/below you) it was hollow because it was studded, but inside the plasterboard, there was a 15cm brick wall. Judging by your pictures, not so many problems can fit in your wall
On the other hand, my house is almost 100 years older :-/
On the other hand, my house is almost 100 years older :-/
By "behind", I assume you mean above? I don't know what it looks like, haven't been keen on making a hole to check.Alien said:
What do you think about the test of sawing into one of the vertical studs? If it doesn't seem to bear any load and you can cut through a stud without issue and then pull apart the lower and upper halves without much force, then the upper floor and attic can't be resting on this wall... I think. :
[/quote]Behind is a vague term. "Above" is of course better.
A cut stud doesn't affect the construction; you likely won't notice if there is tension in the construction.
Regarding a 70 wall not being load-bearing: Today, load-bearing walls are probably built with slightly stronger material, but a 70mm studded wall with, for example, plank sheathing actually has unexpected abilities to handle vertical forces. In a typical house, it might be hard to bring up such loads that a similar wall would buckle.
Now I've gone ahead with the saw and cut one of the standing studs in half. There was no problem cutting through and I can easily push apart the upper and lower parts with finger strength. I dare say that there's no vertical weight on that specific stud and if the wall were load-bearing, then the studs should collectively distribute the force...otherwise, it's really bad for one of the stud stacks. ;D
Thanks for all the advice and tips, I'll be back if the roof falls down...
Thanks for all the advice and tips, I'll be back if the roof falls down...
Now there's a big hole in the wall between the kitchen and the living room...without wall studs! The wall wasn't load-bearing, but it still took a whole weekend for two people to rebuild everything so it looked nice and neat. I'll post some pictures of the work and how it turned out when it's finished.
Gotta love open floor plans! :-*
Gotta love open floor plans! :-*