I'm in the middle of remodeling my second floor after gutting it, and I'm planning to insulate and drywall soon. I want to resize two closets, which means I need to remove some existing studs. I'm almost certain those walls aren't load bearing, but I'd like a professional's opinion to be sure. I've read that a structural engineer would be the right choice, but I worry that might be overkill and too expensive. Would it make more sense to contact a contractor, or maybe a home inspector? What do you think is the best route to take?
3 Answers
A good way to tell if a wall is load bearing is to look for a double top plate. If the joists or trusses run perpendicular to the wall, it’s likely load bearing. But if there’s no double top plate or even a top plate at all, that’s typically a good sign it’s not. However, with houses like yours that are nearly 120 years old, it can get tricky because walls can shift and what used to be non-load bearing might not be so anymore. I’d err on the side of caution and get a professional to confirm.
If your place is already gutted, you could post some pictures online for advice, but I understand that might not be allowed in some forums. Generally, though, if you can share good visuals, folks might spot it quickly for you, whether it’s load bearing or not.
You can pretty much ask anyone with a construction background for help. A good handyman, contractor, or even an inspector can give you an idea. As long as you're okay with paying for their time, most of them will be happy to check it out for you. It’s pretty straightforward for them and they usually don’t mind making a quick buck for a site visit.