Messages and Online Forum Q&A

Re: demolition of internal load bearing wall

From: info@builderswebsource.com
Category: Structural
Remote Name: 193.252.197.9
Date: 16 Feb 2002
Time: 08:01 AM

Comments

Demolition of load-bearing walls depends on a wide range of structural considerations that are unique to each situation. In principle, you must determine what the load is on the wall and provide a suitable temporary support that is structurally safe and sound. A range of techniques are available, including intermediate support beams and jacks using either wood or steel, or a combination of both. If you have any doubts about how your contractor plans to approach this, you may want to contact a structural engineer who can make recommendations. However, a competent licensed contractor should have enough experience to use good judgment with respect to such matters. Before work begins, make sure your contractor is licensed and insured...and that you quiz him or her on the process by which adequate structural support will be provided in the interim. Remember that engineering law in most states requires that a licensed structural or civil engineer is the only one who can specify actual structural members supporting load-bearing partitions. Safety is key and you want to be sure that whatever structure replaces your load-bearing wall has sufficient strength to properly transfer the loads to the foundation.

Builders Websource

Article Tools

Builders Websource® is a corporate member of ASTM International—a non-profit engineering body dedicated in part to the standardization of building materials specifications, products, systems, and test methods for improved health, safety, and reliability of residential and commercial structures.

Copyright © 1999 - 2008 Builders Websource®, an InBuild™ company. All rights reserved.