How to Tell If a Wall Is Load-Bearing

Load-bearing walls are frequently mentioned on home renovation shows, but what are they, and why are they so important? They are a common topic because nearly every modern home renovation involves removing walls to open up a home's floor plan.

If you have renovation plans to tear out a wall or two, you must first understand how to tell if a wall is load-bearing. If you tear down a load-bearing wall without proper preparation, it could blow your renovation budget. Luckily, we've got several tips and techniques for determining which walls are load-bearing.

How to Tell If a Wall is Load-Bearing: What to Look For

How to tell if a wall is load-bearing is possible without removing the drywall, but it helps to have a basic grasp of how a house frame functions. If you're an amateur DIYer, it can be hard to look at a home's framing and really understand what you're looking for.

To someone with a basic understanding of house framing, there are several quick indicators of which walls are load-bearing and which aren't. Below, we've outlined some areas to look at and what to look for to determine if a wall is, in fact, load-bearing or simply a partition wall.

Look at Wall Thickness

The thickness of your wall could indicate whether it's load-bearing or not. Once you factor in studs and a layer of drywall on each side, standard walls typically aren't thicker than 6 inches. If your wall is thicker than six inches, it could mean it's a load-bearing wall with thicker studs to account for the excess load above. If the walls look like the standard thickness or you simply can't tell, head to the attic to inspect the ceiling joists.

Look at the Direction of the Ceiling Joists

One of the easiest methods for how to tell if a wall is load-bearing is to look at the direction of the ceiling joists. If the ceiling joists run perpendicular (90 degrees) to the wall, the wall is load-bearing, as it's bearing the weight of the ceiling joists. If the joists run parallel to the wall, the wall may not be load-bearing.

Even if the joists run parallel, the wall could still be load-bearing, especially if you can identify a single joist resting on the wall. Even still, the wall could be load-bearing if it has two joists running parallel on either side. In this case, the joists would likely rely on blocking to join them and transfer their load to the wall. To identify this, look for small boards connecting two joists on either side of the wall.

Inspect the Roof Bracing

While you're in the attic, check out the roof system. If you can identify bracing running from the frame of the roof to the wall in question, the wall is load-bearing. Additionally, if the wall sits on either end of the trusses, it is safe to assume it's load-bearing.

Look In the Basement

No luck in the attic? Head down to the basement or crawlspace. Find the wall in question and inspect the space beneath it. If another wall sits directly beneath the wall, as well as any other support system, such as beams or columns, the wall is most likely load-bearing.

Pay Attention to Wall Location

A wall in the center of a house is likely load-bearing. However, this is entirely dependent on the design of your roof system, as some roof trusses are designed to place the full load on the exterior walls. When in doubt, inspect your roof system and the direction of the ceiling joists. Regardless of whether or not the interior walls are load-bearing or partition walls, a home's exterior walls are almost always load-bearing.

Inspect Masonry Walls

Not all masonry walls are load-bearing. Many people incorrectly assume that because a masonry wall looks strong and substantial, it is load-bearing. However, certain types of masonry walls, including but not limited to manufactured stone veneer, cannot support loads.

The keyword here is "veneer," as this product is purely decorative and not intended to be structural. The internal wall could still be load-bearing, but the stone would not be the indicator. Exterior masonry walls are often load-bearing, as is the nature of an exterior wall.

Removing a Load-Bearing Wall

Just because you identify a wall as load-bearing doesn't mean your renovation plans must change. Many interior load-bearing walls can still be removed or altered. However, the cost of removing a load-bearing wall versus a partition wall can be significant, and it can be a very involved process, as you must supplement with replacement infrastructure to support the load. This often requires approval and engineering letters, depending on your location and the local building codes, which will likely add to the cost.

Choosing the Right Contractor

Removing and replacing the support of a load-bearing wall will usually require a contractor unless your DIY skills are at a high level of expertise. Take your time and interview at least three contractors, preferably who have been recommended to you by someone you know. Get detailed bids and timelines, and understand their methods of communication so you'll know how to best reach them with questions and concerns during the job (email, phone, or text). Be sure you understand the scope of the work—for example, do they include paint, trim, and finishing in their bid? A good contractor is key to a quality construction job.