Identify load bearing walls in single floor structures

In this video I explain how to identify a wall as load bearing or non load bearing in a single story structure.

[@dianaangel4637]

I am a visual learned . I learn more from this video than from any contractor I have talked! You are a natural educator, what a gift .

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

Thank you. If you have any questions just put in comments, I'm usually pretty good about answering.

[@user-bg4py3bc3t]

Ваш комментарий решил подписку🎉

[@chorher7381]

I agree 100%

[@coldramentpm1013]

to

[@skullmech121]

This is the most clear cut, clear answer video I've found! Thank you for the details and newly learned information!

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

Thankyou, I would be great if you give it a like and tell your friends.

[@Nati_Native_Noise]

This is how your educate DIYers and young rookie contractors. There was nothing in this that wasn't cut and dry. You've just helped me out immensely good sir. Thank you

[@Fuhleash]

This is the only video that has explained what is going on in my attic!!! Stick built roof from the 1960s 😅

[@averagedudeusa9722]

Thank you for the clear explanation. It makes way more since now.

[@7_of_9]

The professor you always wish you had! Thank you.

[@M4BoarBiker]

Thank you Sir, brilliantly straight forward. This helps a lot.

[@rlwsu]

Thank you so much! The information was clear and easy to comprehend.

[@jturnermoney]

You answered all my questions in one video! Thank you

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

Glad I could help

[@cyruspersia3436]

Thank you sir! You area great mentor to explain in details and in a practical manner the complex issues related to structural dilemmas. So easy to understand it now. 🤟

[@teremoanabrowne4880]

Finally got my answer with spliced joists. Great vid man ty

[@majscrap2629]

Excellent video. all others go into the basement and discuss load bearing. This is great for those of us who have a single story with a crawl space.

[@dal8963]

I know my wall is load bearing but this video still helped me understand how my houses load is distributed so thanks great content

[@ausbris]

Excellent and very clear, big thanks to show up the info - from Korean

[@EliasKao]

Thank you so. Much Sir. This is a relief, a great relief to me. I have seen a bunch of videos on this same title and how to remove a load bearing wall and replace it with a beam. But non of them really mentioned about the natures and the makes of the roof whether it would stand on itself allowing you to do changes on the walls under. Thank you so much again.

[@ZessieD]

Agree! Best explanation. I'm a visual learner!

[@mattski1979]

Great explanation. Thank you.

[@allen4758]

The absolute best explanation on this topic,, I finally understand how to identify the load bearing now .

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

That's great, glad to be of assistance

[@thejessica-est]

This was really informative and I appreciate you! My house was built in stages starting in 1904. I wanted to take out a closet and was really confused and didn't want to mess it up. Looking at the attic after watching this it made perfect sense what was and wasn't. Thank you!!

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

I'm glad i could help

[@papatutti59]

Thanks. Just what I needed to know.

[@suzan752002]

You sir are an excellent teacher..I've watched a lot of videos and I finally understand!

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

Thank you, I try to make it as easy to understand as possible.

[@chorher7381]

I understand this video more than any clip from KZbin. Just subscribed. Thank you. It helped me so much to understand after watching this.

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

Thankyou and Thankyou for subscribing.

[@darkcell06]

Finally someone who made sense of this for me lol. Thank you!

[@camtwan1]

Exactly what I needed thank you.

[@ryebread8953]

Great video. Thank you for your knowledge.

[@ptyler74]

I love this video. Whew! I was so worried that my contractor ripped out a load-bearing wall. I have a truss manufacturer one-story house. The wall was in the middle end attached to the exterior wall to expand the bathroom

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

It's great that you studied this to make sure what they are doing is correct. Not all contractors or carpenters can be trusted to do things correct.

[@joselase6894]

When considering which walls to remove, please add sheer wall(s) as well. They are not load bearing, but provide the necessary shear strength to not allow movement (from wind for instance).

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

That is a good point. This video was for identifying load bearing walls. I will do a video explaining sheer walls, thanks for input.

[@1brokenbychrist]

Great content I learned a lot thank you sir!

[@derv206385]

Great explanation. Thank you

[@5238491]

Thank you very much for the video. 😎👍

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

I'm glad it could help

[@scottballesteros8366]

Great video

[@isogonzo]

I'm an apprentice carpenter. My journeyman is gonna be pleasantly surprised when I actually understand him when we start doing this. 😅 Thank you for the detailed enough explanation for me on load-bearing walls! 🤘

[@ashleyclaire7740]

Great explanation

[@DotTheCarpenter]

Awesome explanation

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

Thank you

[@golddiamond2856]

Dam this save me some money I was bout to put a beam for nothing

[@tommylay6390]

Great explanation video Tim, thank you. I watched a bunch of videos and yours was the first that got right to the point and didn't get caught up in every outlier scenario like basements and second stories etc. So my 24' x 72' rectangle shaped house with modern trusses (across the short dimension) with the W web and gussets could literally be emptied of all interior walls right? I just want to remove one kitchen wall that ends abruptly at the end of the kitchen.

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

That is correct. The outside walls would be the only load bearing walls.

[@brendanmangel8089]

I have a question about cape cod style houses go. On deed it says 1.8 floors. Upstairs has 2 finished bedrooms with approx 4 ft knee walls and nothing in between. First floor ceiling joists butt up against eachother with wall directly below and steel beam in basement the entire length of house. But wall on other half of first floor is offset approx 3ft. I am not sure what style truss are in the attic but house was built in 1942 and im not sure that type of truss was available back then. Because there is 2 bedrooms upstairs im assuming that the walls below would be load bearing, especially in snowy area. Thanks for the great video and any information you may have on these style houses would be greatly appreciated.

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

If the rafter has gussets it will be a truss rafter, the weight will be on exterior walls. If stick built it will not have gussets but load will still be on exterior walls. The only walls considered load bearing are the ones that carry weight. In most cases the weight is carried by beams, floor joists, or ceiling joists. If a wall is load bearing the ends of the floor/ceiling joists will rest on the wall. It sounds like the wall you described is load bearing. The wall sitting on top of the steel beam will be load bearing.

[@user-zo8pw3mz2y]

It's been said, this video was a quick to understand the load bearing. I appreciate it. Is it necessary to get an engineer study for replacing load bearing walls with a beam, once the wall is removed?

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

You could ask a contractor, they should know. It will depend on the load and span.

[@juancanela4063]

Excellent explanation, however I have a question. I haven’t find a similar video explaining how to determine a load bearing wall - when it is under an H steel beam, that is supported by metal posts. Could you post a video about it?

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

The steel beam is supporting what is above. The load is transferred through the beam to the posts. So anything that is below the beam would not be load bearing.

[@jiangpan2801]

good explains, can you remove the middle load bearing wall on the right house?

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

You cannot remove the wall with the webbing landing on it unless you replace with a beam, the wall to it's right can be removed because no webbing or ceiling joist ends land on it

[@Braindead154]

Thanks so much! I recently purchased an old, 1946 house with rafters that initially did not have any bracing besides collar ties. It looks like they added purlin bracing later and I think it’s caused some drywall cracking and sagging. In the case where you don’t have load bearing internal walls, but still need to add support to prevent a sagging roof, what should I do? I know theoretically that the continuous joists should distribute that load to the exterior walls, but there been some obvious deflection where the bracing was added. Patch drywall and move on?

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

You can add stiffbacks on the underside of the rafters and the top side of ceiling joists then run bracing from stiffback to stiffback. The stiffbacks will distribute the load and help with sagging.

[@Braindead154]

@@timpalmer-logstolumber1999 thank you! Maybe even just a rat run with some bowed lumber would fix it.

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

@@Braindead154 some people call the stiffback a rat run, they are the same thing

[@tehdreams6363]

ty was easy to understand. i saw 3 videos before this one, all 3 were fuckin confusing lol

[@HD10DANNY]

Great Video! How about on high ceiling trusses, if a wall is running parallel to them? Can it possibly be load bearing?

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

Probably not, those are probably scissor trusses. The outer wall that they sit on will be load bearing.

[@izcalirs]

Hi Tim, looking at your drawing on left ----where wall in the middle is no bearing wall. I have structure just like that, where ceiling jois are NOT splitted in the middle. Question: Is it safe to remove a wall in the middle? Again, ceiling jois go from one end to the other end. please advise.

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

If the walls are close enough together that they don't need a splice the weight is still on the exterior walls. Removing a wall is not going to be a problem.

[@rickmorris8242]

Great

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

Thank you

[@drewbowen8861]

Mine is a similar set up the left drawing. I want to take out a wall in my kitchen to open it up. Is it this safe for the joists to run all the way across 25 ft?

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

If they are truss rafters they are designed to transfer load to outer walls. The wall can be removed. If not sure always ask

[@zekco1]

with trusses , will it sag any if i take out a 26 foot section, on the middle wall

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

No, the trusses are designed to transfer loads to outer walls

[@gilbertperez6056]

So on the structure with the truss do you have to do anything to the webbing in the attic if removing the wall below?

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

No, you shouldn't have to do anything with the truss

[@gilbertperez6056]

So your drawling on the left is very similar to what I am working with. Want to remove a closet and the webbing is at the exact spot before the front closet wall.

[@bakerswenson4468]

Hello, I have a 1978 split level house with a manufactured truss (same shape as your video) gable roof. Since it has a basement, does same principals apply? The living room has a 2 ft jut out on long side of house if that matter? The wall going is going perpendicular to the trusses and isn’t in the direct center of house.

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

The two ft just out is called a cantilever, it has no affect on interior wall. If you have truss rafters the interior wall is not going to be load bearing.

[@checkit6699]

⁠@@timpalmer-logstolumber1999so if I have a Howe truss system, I can remove any interior wall with out structural support?

[@checkit6699]

⁠@@timpalmer-logstolumber1999I have a 2 story house, the walls on question are on the second floor (top floor)

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

@@checkit6699 if you have trusses above second floor you can remove walls on second floor

[@checkit6699]

@@timpalmer-logstolumber1999 perfect thanks a lot. I wasn’t sure because I’ve been told certain walls help support movement from climate & wind.

[@gardenrose264]

Do you need to lift floor boards to see which way the joists run?

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

Does your attic have a floor? Can you see the nails that nail subfloor? Is it stick built or truss?

[@jinglebell9107]

Hi, when you say wall in your board drawing, are you referring to columns??

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

A load bearing wall is any wall that supports the weight of a rafter or ceiling joist above it. A column supporting a beam would also be load bearing.

[@jinglebell9107]

@@timpalmer-logstolumber1999 Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@DanielRodriguez-ny5nt]

What if I have Truss ceiling. But the Ceiling joists do have a splice in the middle bcz of the roof width. Is the wall underneath the spliced ceiling joist load bearing ?

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

No, the splice has a gusset. They are designed to transfer the load to the outer walls.

[@joedanielbradley]

What if the roof is trussed, such as your left hand image, but the ceiling joist part is made of 2 pieces of timber joined together with a gusset that sits over an internal wall through the centre of the house?

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

If there is webbing attaching it to the top chord, the wall is non load bearing. Look at my video about rafter terms, if the building is wide there will be a splice in the middle

[@joedanielbradley]

@@timpalmer-logstolumber1999 Yes there is webbing. In fact trusses look exactly like your diagram. The building is approximately 7 metres wide. Presume it's spliced because you cannot get lumber 7 metres long. So I don't need to worry about supporting it where it is spliced?

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

@@joedanielbradley no support is needed. You are right about the long boards, they are hard to get.

[@overigo9350]

@@joedanielbradley I’m wondering if you took a Center wall out in your house?

[@osojenjen]

Can a house have a combination of truss and stick built rafters?

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

yes

[@PhoBoDacBiet]

3:54 What if there was ceiling joist split? (as in, each joist is 1 solid piece from exterior wall to exterior wall). Would that middle wall still somehow be load bearing?

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

If supported by webbing, no. It would depend on length if not supported. A longer board may have some deflection unless it's wider. If not sure ask a professional.

[@chopshop523]

Would this be true for a two floor home as well?

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

only for the upper floor. the bottom floor would be based on the floor joists and where they end.

[@Interdiction]

If the ceiling rafter was one piece from end to end that would put it in tension meaning any wall in the middle would not be a bearing wall .

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

Yes, that is correct

[@yousafkhan7622]

sir,can we use concrete solid blocks as load bearing without any column and beam to carry all load from roof slab via walls transfer to foundation?

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

yes, as long as they are rated to carry a load. depending on the length of the wall you may need to buttress it, or you might use cinder blocks with the holes so you can fill some of the holes with mortar and add rebar to reinforce the wall.

[@yousafkhan7622]

@@timpalmer-logstolumber1999 sir thank you so much for reply me in my country pakistan most of people in load bearing house construction only using red bricks without colmn and beam so i am thinking to use same method with concrete solid blocks without column and beam with low buget

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

@@yousafkhan7622 I think you would be good

[@user-hu2vf3kj3v]

What if you are stick framed, but the ceiling joists run the whole length and do not have any splice?

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

If there is no splice, the walls in between the walls that have the joist ends are probably not load bearing. But sometimes in order to use smaller ceiling joists they make a wall in between load bearing. You can check the load bearing capacity of the joist using a span data chart.

[@jamesmcsquiggle614]

Might be a stupid question, but I want to make sure…if I remove my drywall and see there is a gap above the to plate, it is safe to assume I am not dealing with a load-bearing wall?

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

Yes, if there is space between the top plate and bottom of ceiling joist or bottom cord it is probably not a load bearing wall.

[@jamesmcsquiggle614]

@@timpalmer-logstolumber1999 Great-thanks!

[@lb8313]

That moment when you dont have an attic and have an oddly designed cathedral house...

[@dmbassett]

My house ain’t that shape. So basically wherever joist ends/cuts sit is the point of load/contact.

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

Yes, any wall that has a ceiling joist end on it will be load bearing.

[@hydrostatics4977]

That truss supporting interior wall you state is not bearing a load load actually bears a load since it supports the beam above it since the beam above it deflects downward due to the loads from the two truss members it supports. Removing that wall removes the bearing it provides and that causes the beam above it to deflect downward.

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

Are you talking about the left or right diagram

[@hydrostatics4977]

@@timpalmer-logstolumber1999 Left. Although the wall in the left drawing does not bear as much of the roof load as the wall in the right diagram it bears a significant more load than the outer walls.

[@timpalmer-logstolumber1999]

@@hydrostatics4977 the wall is not load bearing. The truss rafters are designed to transfer load to the outer walls. You could install the rafters and dry it in then install interior walls. There may be some deflection over time but it is not load bearing.

[@hydrostatics4977]

@@timpalmer-logstolumber1999 What is the basis for your understanding that the beam isn't bearing any of the load from the truss? As a licensed engineer in the field we use structural mechanics to make these determinations.

[@stewardslandscape]

Well, akshuwally.......got to love pedantic engineers.