How to Remove a Load Bearing Wall

[@j.s.1766]

Hey look! Its Michael Fassbender! Thanks for the video, exactly what I needed!

[@queencityminis]

I'd love an update to see how this turned out

[@sylviaelse5086]

I had a neighbour way back, whose attitude towards load bearing walls was "just knock that sucker down". He removed a pillar that was three bricks thick without any regard to what it was supporting. The main consequence was that one corner of his bathroom floor sank by six inches. Seemed to me he was very lucky that was all that happened to his three story house.

[@lanalovesjesus6133]

😮

[@Puda]

Ha! That's why you hire pros!

[@mariahostiguin7980]

Does anyone know if the basement needs footing reinforcement on the beam below when taking load bearing wall down?

[@cynthiabil9359]

Very interesting to see the whole process, wow!! Great job guys!!

[@flipthishouse]

Thanks Cynthia!

[@BradsHacks]

Realtor wife and contractor husband is an extremely OP combo

[@SubStationSparky]

NICE JOB!!! LOOKS MINT!!!

[@flipthishouse]

Thanks!!

[@gallardo360]

that two handed hammer work. lmao 🤣

[@justinball2250]

How long of a span are you capable of supporting with a beam of this type? Also, I really would like to learn more about this type of work, but I can’t really afford to leave my day job. I’d love to flip houses one day. Any advice on where to get experience?

[@MrYishaiShields]

Advice? Don't spend money getting rid of load bearing of walls.

[@ultrasometimes8908]

Ask a professional! Its free

[@Exhaustedmom313]

I love watching these videos with walls you can kick in. You'd break your ankle trying to kick in one of my walls. 😂

[@jenathancouture-blais1039]

Really nice video, lots of good information!

[@flipthishouse]

Thanks Jenathan!

[@charnbirgill6498]

If i want to learn removing load bearing wall…can you teach me i live in ottawa?

[@markfisher2224]

I once removed a load bearing wall, but instead of LVL's I used a 8 X 31 I beam and cut down a 2 X 8 to fit each side of the web and mounted my joist hangers on those. It was cheaper than what I would have spent on LVL's and will never sag.

[@flipthishouse]

That’s a great way to do it as well, did you attach the 2x8’s to the beam with some bolts?

[@markfisher2224]

@@flipthishouse Actually drilled holes and used 16D nails at 8"ofset top and bottom

[@cierrafinney8035]

Mark exactly how did you do this. Thinking about taking out a kitchen wall

[@markfisher2224]

@@cierrafinney8035 locate existing beam in ceiling, build temporary support walls for existing floor joist. You will need to have an engineer determine what your load will be and what size I beam you will need. Once determined you have to remove existing beam (2 X10's) or whatever and cut a pocket to fit beam in snugly. Set new steel beam on stud packs sufficient to carry load. follow instructions above.

[@tonydi2792]

What did you do about the light switch which is visible in the video? Did you need an electrician to reroute the switch, or did you decide to just remove that switch altogether?

[@flipthishouse]

We hired an electrician to relocate all the electrical that was in the walls being removed. We also installed new pot lights and pendant lights at the same time.

[@tonydi2792]

@@flipthishouse thank you! I'm hoping to do this same thing in one of the coming weeks - did you get the electrician to relocate the wires before you knocked down the wall, or after??

[@MrSteeDoo]

The work looks fine. His description of how to determine if you have a load bearing wall is completely wrong though. It would help if you understood the difference between a truss and a rafter.

[@j.s.1766]

Ha! You mean the difference between a truss and a joist:)

[@guillermolucerolima8374]

Is there an upstairs?

[@tazzieastwood2147]

Awesome job.

[@sanjaybaccas85]

Could you say what was the length of that beam it looked like 24ft ??

[@flipthishouse]

It was 22 1/2ft long, good guess!

[@JohnathanAulabaugh]

What height was your LVL? I have 2x8s on a flat roof and want to open up the room. Most of the LVLs I am running across are over 9 inches and I need shorter

[@Brofessor__Oak]

How to you figure out how many boards you need to make the beam

[@flipthishouse]

We used 4X 9 1/2" LVL's

[@johnbarbuto5387]

You didn't say the size of the span you supported with your LVL's, nor how you did the calculation to determine the amount of LVL you used.

[@vboutique2188]

How much labor time and material cost was involved?

[@nicholaspizzuto485]

I have this exact house setup and want to open take down the load bearing wall. What range in cost would I be looking at for a beam such as the LDL you put in?

[@flipthishouse]

It depends on if you are doing the work yourself or hiring a professional, the materials are about $1500 but the labour can be costly. Is this something you are planning on doing yourself?

[@MrSteeDoo]

LVL's run about $5 per foot. So in this case his beam cost about $20 a ft for the material. Of course you would need some 2x for temporary support walls and also deal with the drywall replacement. No way the materials are $1500.

[@drophammer776]

Triple the cost of wood now compared a year ago. Thanks Joe 👍

[@MrRhino365]

How come no one talks about the foundation or pouring concrete for the new supports and weight for the new beams?

[@flintriver1973]

How do you side the lvl beam?

[@flipthishouse]

This lvl beam was flush so we had to attach the ceiling joists to it with joist hangers. It was all covered with drywall after

[@flintriver1973]

@@flipthishouse your very kind to answer. That swipe text was terrible. I meant to say how did you size the lvl beam?

[@evictioncarpentry2628]

@@flintriver1973 You get an engineer to check capacity and give requirement for sizing/supports/bracing. Etc.

[@Sean-Aviation]

what would roughly cost a permit and engineer?

[@pf5658]

I’m curious. Did you have to get an engineer to figure out the specs for the correct size beam?

[@flipthishouse]

Yes we did, we recommend working with any load bearing wall removal projects👍

[@pf5658]

@@flipthishouse Thank you. Sorry but I also meant to ask what’s the average price to hire one?

[@flipthishouse]

We paid about $1000 for the engineer to provide a stamped report

[@pf5658]

@@flipthishouse So not bad at all. Thought it would have been a lot more. Thank you for the quick responses. Much appreciated.😊 Just recently bought my first home and doing some renovations in the basement and I may need such a service so that’s why I was curious.

[@bryanbuilds4255]

How do you know what you would need to complete this? Did you hire an engineer?

[@flipthishouse]

Yes we hired an engineer prior to doing the work

[@evictioncarpentry2628]

You need engineered & stamped drawings....legally. They will check the capacity & requirements.

[@aidendietz]

Was it costly to do that load bearing wall?

[@brianmalubag9387]

hi there! great vids! Do you guys do Montreal area or any recommended company?

[@flipthishouse]

Unfortunately we are located in Ottawa, most local contractors should be able to do this kind of work

[@gardenrose264]

In England the load bearing walls are solid brick... No easy job. ..?

[@robertomercer]

Do you meet permit and inspection

[@flipthishouse]

Yes we do, we had a structural engineer provide us with specs prior to doing the work and the city inspection after doing the work. Keep in mind that the building code may have different requirements depending on where you are so working with a local structural engineer Is recommended.

[@walterdiaz2003]

@@flipthishouse do you know how much they charge for these type of advise?. I have a bathroom in the extended attic that I need to demo and it's attached to the ceiling joists. I was wondering if the bathroom provide some sort of load bearing transfer.There is a rafter above the joist but I want to confirm first. Great video.

[@thefuture8173]

Do you people watch the video and read the comments? Your questions are answered in them

[@iknownotseems]

How much for a wall removal job like this?

[@flipthishouse]

It depends on your contractor or if you do it yourself, our cost was around 25k for the entire renovation and kitchen

[@ceetee3843]

@@flipthishouse how much was the cost of material?

[@ultrasometimes8908]

No glue!

[@Eric_In_SF]

It’s just so weird that you keep calling it an open concept. It’s no longer a concept if you’ve actually built it as the word concept means an idea

[@gardenrose264]

That's not a wall,. its a cardboard box. Lol. Sorry....