My wife and I just bought a house and we're planning some remodeling. I want to remove a post and a pony wall to create a more open layout, but I need to make sure these structures aren't load-bearing before I start any work. We visited another house with the same layout where the post was removed, but the wall remained. I'm curious about any hidden structural changes they might have made. I've posted some photos of the post from the attic and how it appears from below for reference. Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
It looks like the post could be supporting the lower chord of a roof truss. Definitely recommend hiring a structural engineer to take a closer look at it. Better safe than sorry!
It seems like you have a roof truss system, and it's crucial not to modify those without consulting a structural engineer. The 4x4 post looks like it was added later and doesn't seem to be part of the truss system. Still, some details are missing, so be cautious!
Not looking to modify the trusses. There's just a vertical post that comes up alongside them. As far as I could see, it's not attached.
From what I can see, the post doesn’t look structural; it doesn't seem to be holding up the ceiling or the roof. I've never seen a post like this before, and it looks like it might be a 4x4 for some reason. Typically, with a truss system, the load is transferred to the outer walls, which means your walls likely aren't load-bearing. Just remember, this is a guess based on what I'm seeing, so double-checking is wise!
Thank you! That was really insightful. I've got opinions from a few GCs and our home inspector too, but reaching out to a structural engineer sounds like a good idea for peace of mind.
How does it do that?