Watch This Video Before Removing Interior Walls To Install Ceiling Beams - Open Concept Remodeling

[@jedidiah5131]

I used to watch so many reno shows and have never seen this done, they remove so many walls and just put in a beam.....What an eye opener. Thanks for the info.

[@gregvancom]

Yeah and maybe some of the stuff we see on tv works where they are.

[@stellarsidewalks430]

Like all of your videos, this one is great and very informative…I’m a licensed general building contractor and a licensed general engineering contractor and I still learn a lot from your videos and get a lot of value out of all of them. Keep up the fantastic work, my man!

[@gregvancom]

Always glad to read comments like yours and keep learning.

[@JthaEngineer]

There are only like 1 or 2 times I couldn’t remove an entire load bearing wall because of lateral concerns and those were in luxury homes with a lot of windows. Most homes I’ve worked with had enough lateral capacity in the exterior walls, or we could beef up the exterior walls to get it to work. But this is an AMAZING PSA that always gets overlooked.

[@gpdewitt]

This is a much needed video, thanks. A couple comments. I would add, first step in cutting a slab is determining if it's prestressed. Just a thought. You may have seen a lot of videos of improper remodeling, I've had the pleasure of seeing dozens of them in person during inspections. Worst was a flat roof with a 12' diameter "swimming pool" due to removal of a wall and roof sag. What were they thinking??

[@gregvancom]

Yes and a find out if your concrete slab is prestressed it is usually going to be marked in one of the corners of your garage. I can only imagine what you've seen as a building inspector and I'm guessing it's 10 times more than what I've seen as someone who was repairing all of this damage.

[@Ilove3SGTE]

A Portal Frame sheer wall as you're suggest could also be as small as 16" on a single story home. They are generally much stronger at the extiror wall of a structure. Usually they are required to not be more then 12 feet the from the extiror wall. Its awesome that you make these videos informing people.

[@davidpike-bu9po]

Thank you for this video. Just discovered an interior sheer wall in my house (probably for earthquake movement) and this was very helpful

[@gregvancom]

Wonderful!

[@adrastoso9727]

I am surprised to find someone on here that is against removing walls, as this person has said no one’s home has been blown over. To my knowledge Interior walls that are not load baring wall should be able to be removed with out any issues, since the exterior walls should be able designed to hold its self together strongly with out any non load baring interior walls! Load baring walls that have a proper sized beam stretching the length and resting on two ends should be over posts that distributes the weight down through the foundation footers that are usually found under load baring walls. this video is informative and definitely strengthens a home, but we all know that no developer makes homes this strong!

[@gregvancom]

I all I can say is beware, to anyone who thinks they can remove walls inside of their home with out ever having problems.

[@DrgnTmrSirGawain]

I believe this statement: "exterior walls should be able designed to hold its self together strongly with out any non load baring interior walls" would actually depend on the height of the unbraced (without lateral support) height of the wall.

[@adrianafarias4604]

Hola por favor habiliten los subtitulos en español me parecen muy interesantes los videos. Gracias

[@piledriver141]

If the non load wall is removed in a home built with trusses secured properly secured with hurricane straps. I would think the wind load is taken care of. But what you suggested is definitely much stronger but is it necessary?

[@gregvancom]

It would depend on the design of what you're working with.

[@majscrap2629]

He wants the building to withstand naval gunfire. It's like he has some shoddy shack to start with.

[@Rozhyargoran]

Hello, I want to remove a wall between living room and guest room and but the joist of the ceiling are overlap with each other but few of them in the middle of the wall are not same size and overlapped almost 2 ft after the wall that supports the ceiling joists, in that case what I should do if I put 2x10x16'? (note the length of the room is 32 ft and when I put the beam I need to have a post in almost the middle of the house or maybe if you have any videos describing how to combine two of 2x10x16 and combine/overlap to the rest of the beam that will be same size as the length of the room is 32 ft and as I said maybe a post need in the middle under where these 2 (2x10x20) meets)

[@BillWalters77]

Very interesting, Greg. Thank you. You discuss the reason a problem could exist is due to wind forces. Would seismic forces also pose similar risks? Thanks again.

[@gregvancom]

Yes, even though most of the research I've done on drag beams often refer to wind loads and rarely refer to seismic forces.

[@DrgnTmrSirGawain]

depends on location and other conditions. wind might or might not control lateral forces, and same thing with seismic.

[@khalidhashimeh]

That's awesome man..great video..thumps up

[@gregvancom]

Thanks for the visit

[@anthonyromano8565]

What needs more lateral support a hurricane wall or an earthquake wall ?

[@gpdewitt]

National codes require different designs for different severity zones for both wind and seismic. The two are not comparable in some aspects.

[@gregvancom]

That would be a difficult question to answer and would also depend upon the design of the building. I remember one story where someone planted large trees to reduce the speed of the wind, only to find out later that one of the trees fell over and damage the home. That's kind of the way I look at engineering. Sometimes by solving one problem you create other problems.

[@dantheman3022]

Hiya .. Do shear panels on BOTH sides mean double the shear ? or is it still counted as 1 shear panel on that particular wall ???

[@gregvancom]

I don't know how much more strength you're going to get out of a wall with shear panel on each side, but I don't think it will be double.

[@jackclouse9339]

Aren’t you supposed to have support columns on both sides of the beam that extend unobstructed from the beam down to the floor ???

[@joedoesfun9336]

Every removal and beam addition I've seen uses king and jack studs attached to the exterior walls, not directly on top of the sill plate. That keeps the beam lower and not on ceiling level and would most likely provide that shear strength necessary.

[@Dayinthelifeofawiener]

Great video, thanks!!

[@gregvancom]

Glad you liked it!

[@jerryabear]

such great videos, thanks greg!

[@gregvancom]

My pleasure and thanks for letting me know.

[@LuisFlores-dn6jt]

You didn’t say anything about earthquakes. Is the issue more related to prolonged loads in one direction affecting an area of the structure that is the risk you want to deal with here?

[@donaldlee6760]

I'm also interested in how earthquake forces would be considered. BTW - I live in Oakland, CA, and on a hillside home to boot!

[@lectro88]

I appreciate the video,. wind was never a thought. as an electrical contractor, cutting concrete makes me cringe, plumbing, electrical, refrigeration and even prestress cables buried in concrete. And yes there is Xray but not many elect that option.(expense and time) I had the pleasure of killing several circuits for the IRS occupying the floor below(commercial bldg) talk about a lead ballon filled with farts in church

[@gregvancom]

Glad you liked it and no more wall cutting:)

[@antoniov4152]

Great video

[@marct.1574]

Hey Greg, I am located in Florida. I am intermediate with the construction world. A family ask me if I would be able to knock down a wall on their 80s built manufacture home. I have pictures of the wall. To me it doesn’t look like a load bearing wall. I want to see if you can look at it based in those pictures. Do you have an email by any chance Greg. Can you help me with this. I try to find the right person to ask. I wasn’t able to over my end. I reach out so many engineer structural, contractors. Wasn’t able to locate the right individual. Can you please help me with this. Thanks

[@gregvancom]

I can provide an opinion, but an engineer would be your best bet.

[@marct.1574]

Ok. You have an email Greg?

[@mistersniffer6838]

Im confused. Doesnt that wall negate a open area concept?

[@daves3819]

Where / how would an 18' wide garage with a 16' garage door get its lateral sheer strength?

[@gregvancom]

I would get it from the other walls and the roof, but you have made a good point. I've moved some of these buildings before by pushing on them before.

[@spencerjoplin2885]

Greg’s obviously an engineer. An architect would’ve suggested adding a door.

[@gregvancom]

An engineer would have required a bond beam under the whole floor:)

[@robwright5940]

Awesome!

[@gregvancom]

Glad you think so!

[@tonytucker8651]

Do you have an email I can send pictures to you and ask questions?

[@chuckskinny1]

🤯 I’ll just paint it

[@arneltorres530]

Shy. And here I am thinking how to layout my fence post. Lol

[@charlesviner1565]

Like 👍

[@gregvancom]

✌

[@lolitabonita08]

tere are very dangerous people giving dangerous advice to people....scary!

[@gregvancom]

Yes and I've seen lots of videos, with lots of views and lots of comments talking about how awesome the video is and that they're going to do something similar. It's like the blind leading the blind in some cases.

[@lolitabonita08]

@@gregvancom exactly and the sad part is that people take the advice at face value without taking the time to search and research for days until find a common sound advice...