Is this wall load bearing?

Question

I'm currently looking at a property and trying to see it through my "Value Add" goggles. I need someone with more rehab experience to give their opinion if this wall is load bearing or not? Its the wall separating the living room and kitchen.

How can I find out for sure without tearing up the drywall? What's the approximate cost to add a beam if it is load bearing.

Thank you.

How can I find out for sure without tearing up the drywall? What's the approximate cost to add a beam if it is load bearing.

Thank you.

Jeremy Horton · Answer

I think the better question is: How much "value" is removing that wall going to add? I'm guessing little to none, certainly not as much as it would cost to remove. Where you going to put the refrigerator and cabinets? There's electrical for the fridge, for the outlets. The more I look at it, the less it makes sense to remove that wall.

Value add would be adding bedrooms, closets, bathrooms, finishes etc. NOT removing a random wall to change the layout. I don't see this as an improvement.

Not only that, the house looks to be already remodeled and clean. It's ready to go.

My take: Leave the wall

Eric M. · Answer

Look in the attic if you are able to. If the vaulted area of the roof has a ridge beam (large) and not a ridge board (small) see if that beam has a post going down to the center of the wall you are wanting to remove. Definitely load bearing then.

Use a stud finder on the kitchen ceiling - if the ceiling joists run perpendicular to the wall, definitely load bearing.

If neither of these are true, you still need to consult an engineer or your contractor to find out for sure that it isn't load bearing.

Christian Maluo · Answer

You should be able to tell by looking in the crawlspace in that area too.

Chris Seveney · Answer

this is just a guess as an engineer and have built many homes. I would say yes that is a load bearing wall as joists typically go front to back and the joists in the unvaulted room and kitchen are being supported by that wall.

Greg Scott · Answer

Given the angled ceiling, it probably isn't.  You should be able to tell for sure by going into the attic space and seeing if any beams rest on that wall.

On the other hand, that building looks fully-rehabbed and the kitchen large-enough.  I'm not sure it makes sense to remove that wall.  What are you hoping to accomplish?

Is this wall load bearing?

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