A load-bearing wall or bearing wall is a wall that is an active structural element of a building, which holds the weight of the elements above it, by conducting its weight to a foundation structure below it. Load-bearing walls are one of the earliest forms of construction.

How do you know if it’s a load-bearing wall?

Step 1: Determine Whether a Wall Is Load-Bearing or Not

  1. Check an unfinished basement or attic to see which way the joists run.
  2. If the wall runs parallel to the joists, it’s probably not load-bearing.
  3. If it’s perpendicular, it most likely is a load-bearing wall.


How do you know if you can knock down a wall?






Quote from Youtube video: If you're around four and a half inches. Chances are that's a 2×4 wall it may not be load-bearing it still could be but it may not be if it's around six and a half inches with the drywall.

Related:

  1. Interior wall construction – Is it possible for this to be load bearing?
  2. Determining if wall is non-load bearing
  3. How can I tell if this is a load bearing wall?
  4. Load bearing wall & shelving suggestions
  5. Identify if this is a load bearing wall from the blue print