Change Load Bearing Wall To Open Floor Plan

Interior walls create privacy define spaces and sometimes bear the weight of the level above.

Change load bearing wall to open floor plan.

New construction began to favor the great room look in which kitchen dining and living spaces were. These interior walls have defined floor plans for centuries but starting in the 1950s when the open floor plan style became popular many of these walls segmenting the house fell into disfavor. Non load bearing walls also called partition walls do not support loads from above and are simply there to divide spaces if you re considering removing a load bearing wall. The engineer may look at a diagram of your floor plan to become familiar with the overall layout and design of the house but this does not help them determine which walls in your home are load bearing as the floor plan does not contain detailed construction information.

Finding a loadbearing wall in the way when you are remodeling to create an open floor plan can add extra cost and stress to a project. Hiring an architect to determine if the wall or walls are load bearing walls and if so how their loss can be compensated for with one or more beams or beam and pillar combinations. Achieving an open concept requires removing walls to allow free flowing spaces between the kitchen and family room or dining area. Removing a load bearing wall and replacing it with a beam is significantly different from removing interior non load bearing walls load bearing walls are structural elements that help support the weight of the house.