How to Replace Load Bearing Walls

Load bearing walls are an essential part of the structural integrity of a building. The load bearing walls distribute the weight of the upper levels of a building across the foundation of the home. They are generally found running perpendicular to the joists above and below them.

Load bearing walls can be replaced by load bearing beams. These beams are generally two 2 x 12 Laminate Veneer Lumber (LVL) and should be the length of the wall you are removing. Using beams shorter than the length of the load bearing wall is not recommended due to bowing and decreased structural integrity.

Before construction begins to replace a load bearing wall, you should look inside the wall to see what is in there. There could be electrical wires, water pipes, gas lines, or heating and cooling vents that will need to be rerouted. You will also want to consider the additional costs that can be expected when tearing out a wall. These costs can include patching or repairing drywall, repainting, replacing existing trim work or adding matching trim, and refinishing or replacing the flooring.

When replacing a load bearing wall with a beam you must first build a temporary support wall to hold the weight while the beam is being put into place. The temporary support wall should be placed 3 feet away from the area where you will be working but close enough to support the weight. Once the temporary wall is up, you can begin tearing down the existing load bearing wall.

Once the drywall is removed from the studs on the load bearing wall, one foot of the ceiling should be torn down to expose the joists and utility components above. Next the studs, top plate, and backer stud will be removed from the load bearing wall.

To begin building the new beam to replace the load bearing wall, first you will need to build a beam cradle. The beam then gets cut to length and set into the cradle. When the load bearing beam is in place, you will need to shim between the bottom of the beam and the supporting studs to ensure a snug fit with the tie plate.

Next, you will need two snug fitting 2 x 4's to use at the end of the beams. These trimmers support the end of the new load bearing beam. Make sure the beam is securely attached and the initial construction is complete. The final step is to complete the aesthetic features of the load bearing beam.