Load bearing wall or not

[Greta Andrews]

How do I know if a wall is load-bearing or not

[Todd Dexheimer]

A load bearing wall is often easy to spot. In most buildings 1980's or newer a load bearing wall is a 2x6 wall and the wall will carry down through the basement (walls stacked on top of each other or a post and beam system). The easiest way to tell, is if the joists above the wall is split and land on top of the wall, meaning the joist lands perpendicular to the wall and stops at or slightly after the wall. There is typically another joist that would go the other direction that is connected. If you take that wall out, then they would be floating. If the joists/rafter are running perpendicular to the wall and especially if there is a split in the joist/rafter, it may be load bearing. 

It's best to consult with a contractor or engineer if you're not sure.