How to identify a load bearing wall?

[gmaz]

Is there any way to identify a load bearing wall without enlisting the services of a structural engineer? We want to remove the "pantry" in the kitchen, labelled as "Cupboard" in grey below by taking out where I've marked in blue, and perhaps also the short wall to the left of the hob, which is like an archway into the utility room. The walls seem to be solid block built, but it is an older property built 1955.

[Sheets Tabuer]

Not an engineer but is there a wall above it?

[Megaflow]

The first thing you need to know is which way the floor joist run. Parallel with a wall, very unlikely to be load bearing. Perpendicular to the wall, possibly, but more details will be required.

I’d be amazed if the pantry is supporting anything. There is a possibility the return by the utility could be, but if it is, there would likely be a visible beam above the arch, but equally the beam could be in the ceiling.

You will need to be making holes to check what is going where and what is sitting on what.

[Mr Squarekins]

Off topic a little, but was the living room once much smaller rooms? If so, where does the steel run? That will also give you an idea of the load bearing, if that's the case.

[hidetheelephants]

Sheets Tabuer said:

Not an engineer but is there a wall above it?

What he said; is there a wall above it?

[TA14]

Looks like it might be supporting the toilet wall. On the left lateral restraint may be an important consideration.

For the sake of a small fee it's best to employ a SE to have a look at the whole house. Why take risks?

[Simpo Two]

If this happens, then it was
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1474321177016668

[megaphone]

Mr Squarekins said:

Off topic a little, but was the living room once much smaller rooms? If so, where does the steel run? That will also give you an idea of the load bearing, if that's the case.

Not off topic at all, very relevant, was my first thought.

[wolfracesonic]

hidetheelephants said:

Sheets Tabuer said:

Not an engineer but is there a wall above it?

What he said; is there a wall above it?

Not always definitive, it may be supporting floor joists but with no wall above it, or providing lateral restraint as TA mentioned.

[GT6k]

In my 1960s house the plasterboard runs over the top of the non load bearing walls whereas the load bearing walls have the joists resting on them. I would remove some of the plasterboard at the top of the pantry wall and see if it is holding anything up.

[megaphone]

GT6k said:

In my 1960s house the plasterboard runs over the top of the non load bearing walls whereas the load bearing walls have the joists resting on them. I would remove some of the plasterboard at the top of the pantry wall and see if it is holding anything up.

He said the walls seem to be solid block.

[chris1roll]

megaphone said:

GT6k said:

In my 1960s house the plasterboard runs over the top of the non load bearing walls whereas the load bearing walls have the joists resting on them. I would remove some of the plasterboard at the top of the pantry wall and see if it is holding anything up.

He said the walls seem to be solid block.

All the walls in my 1960 house are solid block.


The block-built pantry was simply butted up underneath the plasterboard before we took it out.

[megaphone]

chris1roll said:

megaphone said:

GT6k said:

In my 1960s house the plasterboard runs over the top of the non load bearing walls whereas the load bearing walls have the joists resting on them. I would remove some of the plasterboard at the top of the pantry wall and see if it is holding anything up.

He said the walls seem to be solid block.

All the walls in my 1960 house are solid block.


The block-built pantry was simply butted up underneath the plasterboard before we took it out.

So you meant remove the plasterboard ceiling.

[TA14]

chris1roll said:

megaphone said:

GT6k said:

In my 1960s house the plasterboard runs over the top of the non load bearing walls whereas the load bearing walls have the joists resting on them. I would remove some of the plasterboard at the top of the pantry wall and see if it is holding anything up.

He said the walls seem to be solid block.

All the walls in my 1960 house are solid block.

The block-built pantry was simply butted up underneath the plasterboard before we took it out.

Rules of thumb are just that. Block/brick walls are not always loadbearing. Stud walls can be load bearing, etc.. (Quite often plasterboard acts structurally!)

[Gareth79]

TA14 said:

chris1roll said:

megaphone said:

GT6k said:

In my 1960s house the plasterboard runs over the top of the non load bearing walls whereas the load bearing walls have the joists resting on them. I would remove some of the plasterboard at the top of the pantry wall and see if it is holding anything up.

He said the walls seem to be solid block.

All the walls in my 1960 house are solid block.

The block-built pantry was simply butted up underneath the plasterboard before we took it out.

Rules of thumb are just that. Block/brick walls are not always loadbearing. Stud walls can be load bearing, etc.. (Quite often plasterboard acts structurally!)

A friend of mine removed a stud wall in their 60s house, it separated the lounge from the hallway, so it opened up the lounge to the stairs etc, quite a decent idea. Anyway they said after doing that when walking along the landing upstairs they could hear china ornaments clinking on a shelf as the floor bounced...

[bobtail4x4]

what did they do about means of escape from the bedrooms after?

[bennno]

Where does the toilet waste go?