I recently bought a house in Germany with block walls, and I'm looking to remove a knee wall in my kitchen to create a more open space. The wall adjacent to the knee wall is definitely load bearing, but the previous owner and another DIY enthusiast both claim that the knee wall is also load bearing and shouldn't be removed. I suggested cutting it back to fit the cabinets and counter, but they advised that this can only be done if another wall is added to the room next door. I'm struggling to find reliable information about whether knee walls can be load bearing, especially since it seems that this one is supported above and below by concrete floors. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
From what I can tell, that knee wall likely isn't load bearing since there's nothing directly on top of it. Sure, there could be some wires or pipes hidden inside, but it's probably not doing any structural work. I'd double-check that for peace of mind, but it seems safe to say it's not critical for the support of your house.
Haha, yeah! I think they might think it's stabilizing against swaying, but if the floors above and below support it, it doesn't really add up. I've mostly worked on stick-built homes, but I’d suggest checking for any hidden stuff. Maybe poke a small hole to see!
Good idea! Just check if moving it is even possible before you demolish it!
Honestly, it sounds like the previous owner might have been a bit overly cautious. It's probably as load bearing as a car's blinker needs fluid! If the only concern is hidden utilities, you might just need to take a peek inside to see what's actually there.
Right? I mean, it's 2023! What do they expect, a wireless load-bearing wall?