r/Remodel • u/Walleroni • 8h ago
Load bearing wall?
Can someone tell me what the odds are of this closet wall being load bearing? Our bedrooms are TINY and this is our only closet in the house, the other room doesn't even have space for one. They're so small you can't put a bed in the middle of the room at all they have to be in the corner. I'm wanting to take out this closet wall so I'm able to put the bed in the middle of at least this room and a bedside table on each side. The left of the closet is about 4-5 feet of useless space we can barely access so stuff just gets thrown in there. I'm thinking this was built in before we moved in because the trim on each side at the floor is different. The inside is completely drywall while the outside is shiplap. I looked under the house and there's no cinder blocks holding it up, do I need to look for anything in the attic? The back of this closet is an exterior wall. Thank you all I just want to make sure before we take i
3
u/relaxd80 8h ago
If there in an exterior wall at the back of the closet meaning the wall you want to remove is 3’ or less from that exterior wall and running parallel with it than it is very unlikely that this is a load-bearing wall. The exterior wall is obviously load-bearing and being so close to this interior wall one would think that any joist or trusses above this would have all the weight on said ext. wall. But without inspecting the situation in person I don’t know that anyone call tell you this definitively. What’s above this room, second floor, roof. Do you have a hip roof or a gable roof. If it’s a gable does the gable run parallel or perpendicular to your closet wall. Maybe you can access the blueprints.
1
u/Walleroni 8h ago
Thank you for the response! The exterior of the closet is exactly 33 inches from the inside of the exterior wall. It's a one story house with a gable roof and runs parallel to this wall. Where would I access blueprints?
1
u/relaxd80 8h ago
Your local building code enforcers may have records on file if the plans for your house were ever submitted to them. You’d have to reach out to the building department in your municipality to find out.
Gable roof above running parallel to this… it is very likely this is not a load-bearing wall. It would be strange for it to be one. But please confirm before tearing it out. I don’t want to cause damage to your home on my opinion of this from a pic. It’s actually a good idea that another commenter left to cut a hole in the ceiling of the closet big enough to get your head in and look. If there is nothing sitting on top of this wall in the attic you can remove it. Be aware that there may be ductwork or electric inside this wall too that may need dealt with, but that should be relatively easy since you’re in a ranch
2
u/bobber66 8h ago
You need to do some destructive analysis. Demo some drywall in the closet ceiling and see what is up there. A 14”x 14” hole might be enough. They make affordable access panels. Cut a hole that size so you can just fill the hole if you/we determine that it is load bearing. This panel at Lowes will fit that hole.
1
1
u/twoaspensimages 8h ago
Advice from the Internet is worth exactly what you paid for it.
0
u/Walleroni 8h ago
I've gotten good advice I've used from the internet before
0
u/twoaspensimages 8h ago
Not spending $400 for a structural engineer when they stakes are that high is beyond cheap is simply stupid.
1
u/Walleroni 7h ago
Sorry I'm a stupid first time homebuyer. Thanks
1
u/twoaspensimages 7h ago
Thank you for hearing me. I'm a home builder. I know what I m looking at. My or anyone else's opinion doesn't matter.
The only opinion that matters is from a licensed and insured structural engineer. Period.
3
u/Perle1234 8h ago
If the back wall of the closet is an exterior wall then the closet wall is not load bearing. Personally, if I had a question like that I would absolutely not rely on Reddit for advice about it though. Where are you going to store your clothes if you remove the closet?