Tell If A Wall Is Load Bearing From The Attic

However there are cases where a bearing wall is parallel to the joists.

Tell if a wall is load bearing from the attic.

Be extra careful with the walls that have other walls above it. The best way to tell if a wall is load bearing is to go in the attic ceiling space to see if there is any framing joists rafers trusses supported by that wall. If the wall is located directly under the attic you can go up there to study the positions of the beams and joists. Generally when the wall in question runs parallel to the floor joists above it is not a load bearing wall.

As you scan the house from the basement to the attic you will get a good idea of the blueprint. Load bearing walls cross roof beams in a perpendicular direction. Using this technique you ll get a better idea of the location of the load bearing walls in your house. Assess your basement look in your basement or crawl space for steel beams or joists.

If you have walls built in the same place on each floor of the home those walls are all most likely load bearing. Most load bearing walls will support the floor or walls above it. See if the wall runs through multiple levels. If it is a small home usually roof framing is in one direction only north south or east west.

If you do spot joists in your basement and there is a wall that runs perpendicular this wall is most likely load bearing.