for Cold Climate Housing and much more

Last Updated: , Created: Saturday, October 27th, 2001

Can I remove a load bearing wall and not put in a beam?

Judy, the true answer is NO, but you can make it look like you have not put in a beam. Do you like that?

Take a look at the photo. Here they show using joist hangers and a "flush beam" that is up in the attic and not taking up headroom in the room below.

Whenever changing the structure in your house, remember that you need someone competent, like a structural engineer, to analyse both the size of the beam required and the support under that beam required. Remember that you are now putting all that weight on two posts that will be holding up the beam, and something has to be able to hold up those posts. Well thinking but inexperienced contractors and homeowners alike have punched holes right through the floor by having too much weight on posts that did not have what it takes to carry that weight on down to the soil.


Keywords: Structure, Joist, Framing, Beam, Safety

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