Could this be a load-bearing wooden beam?

[mrlars]

Hi, I've torn down a wall between our bedroom and into the "kattvind". I removed almost everything except a wooden beam that lies along the floor. I haven't dared to remove it in case it is load-bearing in some way. I thought I'd consult this forum first before proceeding to a professional carpenter.

Regards, Lasse

 

[Goteborg]

likely load-bearing, I have something similar with an iron beam built into the wall like that. What does the floor plan look like on the first floor?

 

[mrlars]

The floor plan on the first floor; yes, under where the wooden beam lies is our living room, which is quite large and covers the entire bedroom section + attic crawl space section. Is that what you meant?

I felt with my fingers and along the underside of the wooden beam, it is free... not nailed anywhere. Only in the right and left wall. I can add that the houses were built in '37.

 

[MB77]

The beam itself is probably not load-bearing, but what was above it was most likely load-bearing. That is, the wall that has now been torn down. Almost all walls that lead to attic spaces are load-bearing.
I have just torn down the walls to my attic spaces and made reinforcements on them.

Do you have any pictures of how it looked before and during the demolition?

 

[mrlars]

No, unfortunately, I don't have any pictures from before or during the demolition. I can take some new photos of how it looks towards the ceiling. I got a bit worried now that you mentioned that almost all the walls are load-bearing next to the attic. I can imagine that the roof was slightly weakened after removing the wall. But if you do a "avväxling" as you wrote, what does it involve? A glulam beam as support against the ceiling and pairs of studs on the sides?

 

[MB77]

What kind of roof trusses do you have, and is it a raised wall life?

 

[mrlars]

I have taken some new pictures of what it looks like in the ceiling after the demolition. I hope this can give some answer to your question. I think it looks quite stable as it is now. What do you think?

 

[injonil]

I would think that the beam is a so-called follower, which is therefore part of the truss. Should not be removed without further consideration.

 

[MB77]

I think you should contact a building engineer so he can take a look at that. The wall you have demolished is part of the structure.

 

[Letni]

That beam is absolutely most likely load-bearing!

 

[mrlars]

Thank you for the help. A carpenter will look at this shortly.

 

[injonil]

I hope the carpenter you hire is also a designer/structural engineer.

 

[MB77]

Thanks for the help. A carpenter will take a look at this shortly.

Don't forget to post here what he/you came up with.

 

[mrlars]

It is a professional construction company that will look into this. I talked to them today. It may take some time before I return with a follow-up in this thread. But I promise to get back when I know something new.

 

[KnockOnWood]

Of course, the beam is load-bearing.
You didn't think they put it there just for you to trip over, did you?

The fact that it's placed over the underbeam (floor joist) instead of under is likely so you can have a large open space on the lower floor without disruptive beams in the ceiling.