Load Bearing Wall Construction:
Load Bearing Wall Construction was most widely used form of construction for large buildings from the 1700’s to the mid 1900’s. Load Bearing Wall Construction is rarely used today in large buildings, but smaller residential buildings are being built.
Load Bearing Wall Construction consists mainly of thick, heavy brick or stone walls that support the entire structure, including the horizontal floor slabs, which can be made of reinforced concrete, wood, or metal parts.
The key point about Load Bearing Wall Construction is that the entire wall acts as a load-bearing element. In a Load Bearing Wall Construction, you can’t punch holes in the wall to connect two rooms or you could damage the building if you did.
The heavy weight of the walls actually helps to strengthen the structure and stabilize it against external forces such as wind and earthquakes. In traditional European Load Bearing Wall Construction, the floor slabs were made of horizontal wooden beams, joists, and planks. A joist is a small wooden beam that rests on two large beams.
What Is Load Bearing Wall?
A load-bearing wall is a wall that is an active functional structure of a building, which carries the weight of the building above it, then transfers the total weight to the foundation structure beneath it.
Load-bearing walls are one of the first methods of construction. The construction of the flying buttress in Gothic architecture allowed the buildings to keep the interior open, transferring more weight to the buttresses instead of the central walls.
In housing, load-bearing walls are more commonly used in the light construction method known as “platform framing”.
The birth of the skyscraper era and the simultaneous growth of steel as a more suitable framing system, as well as the limitations of load-bearing construction on large buildings, led to a decline in the use of load-bearing walls in a large scale commercial structures.
A load-bearing wall is a functional structure of a building, which carries the weight of the material and structure above the said wall resting upon it by transferring its weight to the foundation structure. The materials most commonly used to build load-bearing walls are concrete blocks or brick for large buildings.
In contrast, the curtain wall does not provide significant support for the structure beyond what is needed to carry its own materials or conduct such loads onto a load-bearing wall.
How to Tell If a Wall Is Load Bearing?
- While one should consult a professional architect, such as a carpenter, architect, or structural engineer, to ensure that the wall is Load Bearing or non Load Bearing, there are a number of indicators you can check for to get the initial answer. We can do this without removing the drywall or other destructive steps.
- A good place to start is to dig out the actual building plan if they are available. The original building plan will tell you which walls carry the load and which are not. If the wall is marked “S” in the building plan, this means “structure,” thus indicating that there is a load-bearing wall.
- Look at your roof to identify any beams that carry loads across the house. Any walls under these beams are probably also carrying the load. If there is no load-bearing beam under the wall that you can consider removing the wall as it may not be Load Bearing.
- Look in your building basement or crawl space for metal beams or joists. If you see joists in your basement and there is a wall that goes perpendicularly, then this wall may be Load Bearing. If the wall is situated parallel above the joints, it may not be a load-bearing wall.
Load Bearing Beam-
A good way to make small or narrow rooms large is to remove the wall between the adjoining rooms. When you replace a load-bearing wall with a load-bearing beam, you create a larger, more usable floor area and give your home a more spacious feel.
Load-bearing walls cannot be removed without installing a building system, such as a Load Bearing beam, to replace an existing wall. Loose walls do not carry a load (weight of the building) above them and can usually be removed without worrying about cracking or caving of the house.
How Wide of an Opening Can You Have on a Load Bearing Wall?
- An opening you can have on a Load Bearing Wall should be six feet or less. This creates a carrying point 1.5 inches wide.
- Any open space more than six feet should have at least 2×4 no of beams under each edge of the floor.
- We cannot have wide openings on any load-bearing wall as it is not well supported. Proper support varies depending on the weight of the load, the base under which it is supported, and the materials used to support it.
- While constructing a building, one must need a civil engineer to inspect it and design that support.
Non-Load Bearing Wall-
Load-free or Non-Load Bearing walls are installed inside the house and do not support any building weight. Non-Load Bearing Wall does not bear the additional weight of a building structure; they can only bear their own weight. Non-Load Bearing Wall is used primarily as room dividers and in particular, do not serve any other purpose.
One can quickly distinguish Non-Load Bearing Wall by simply looking at the beams on their roof or in the basement. When joists and beams run parallel to a wall, they are often considered non load-bearing walls.
One can remove Non-Load Bearing Wall without compromising the safety of the building as they are not responsible for the support of gravity of your property. It is always a good idea to take professional advice and guidance before proceeding with these actions.
Aside from the variety of private gardens, the Non-Load Bearing Wall appears only when loads are carried by other members, such as on heavy logs and other skeleton frames. Modern steel and reinforced concrete frames require only the outer walls of the shelter and sometimes carry them down to allow easy access.
Since the wall rests on the members of the frame, it becomes a screen and admits treatment in any weatherproof material.
Traditional materials are commonly used, but simple walls of glass, plastic, alloys, wood products, etc., can work equally well. This freedom of choice even extends to the walls and offers the greatest opportunity for artistic expression.
Non-Load Bearing Wall Framing-
A wall that does not help the building to stand and hold itself is known as a Non-Load Bearing Wall Framing. This wall is also called the “curtain wall”. A load-bearing wall does not support the roof loads on the floor above. Non-Load Bearing Wall Framing is not part of a building framework.
Most of the time, it is the interior walls whose purpose is to divide the floor into rooms. They are built to be simple to reduce the dead load of the building.
One can remove any load-bearing walls without compromising the safety of the building. Load-bearing walls can be seen with joists and beams. They are not responsible for supporting the gravitational pull of this asset. It costs effective.
The following are the types of load-free walls based on the unit of wall used:
- Hollow Concrete Block Wall.
- Facade Bricks Wall.
- Empty Bricks.
- Brick Walls.
How to Make a Load Bearing Beam?
- To make a load-bearing beam first assemble the two pairs of beams from the 2×4 pairs and attach them to the tire plate and bottom with 3-inch screws.
- Cut the beam long and cut the notches (if necessary) to erase the binding plates from the joined walls.
- Slip the beam members into place and place them on a temporary bed.
- Drive the shims between the support studs and under the pole until the beams are firmly across the bottom of the binding plate.
- Cut two suitable cutters at each end of the beam.
- Give them the foundations under the beam and tap them in place.
- Face or nail each one with at least six 16d nails.
- Cut the block to fit between the joists down directly below the beam crossing trunks.
- Claw and finish the nails on the surrounding flowers.
Frequently Asked Questions about Load-Bearing Walls in Construction
What is a load-bearing wall?
A load-bearing wall is a structural element that supports the weight of the building above it and transfers this weight to the foundation.
How can you tell if a wall is load-bearing?
Look at the building plans to identify walls marked as “structure” (typically denoted by “S”). Additionally, check for walls under load-bearing beams or joists in the basement or crawl space.
Can load-bearing walls be removed?
Yes, but it requires careful planning and often involves installing a load-bearing beam or other structural support to carry the weight previously supported by the wall.
How wide of an opening can you have in a load-bearing wall?
Generally, openings wider than six feet in a load-bearing wall require additional structural support, such as a load-bearing beam, to maintain the integrity of the building.
What is the difference between a load-bearing wall and a non-load-bearing wall?
A load-bearing wall supports the weight of the building, while a non-load-bearing wall is used primarily as a partition between rooms and does not carry structural weight.
Can non-load-bearing walls be removed without affecting the building’s safety?
Yes, non-load-bearing walls can typically be removed without compromising the structural integrity of the building, as they do not bear the weight of the structure.
How are load-bearing beams constructed?
Load-bearing beams are typically constructed by assembling pairs of beams (such as 2x4s) and securing them with screws. These beams are then installed under load-bearing points to support structural weight.
What are some common materials used in load-bearing wall construction?
Traditional materials include concrete blocks and bricks, while modern constructions may incorporate steel or reinforced concrete for enhanced strength and stability.
Why has load-bearing wall construction declined in large-scale buildings?
The rise of steel and reinforced concrete frames in skyscraper construction offered greater structural versatility and efficiency compared to traditional load-bearing wall methods.
Should I consult a professional before making changes to load-bearing walls?
Yes, it is crucial to seek guidance from a structural engineer or architect before removing or altering load-bearing walls to ensure the safety and integrity of the building.
