Load Bearing Wall Attic View

You can install a beam above the load wall where it sits on top of the ceiling.

Load bearing wall attic view. Exterior load bearing walls and columns gravity and transverse lateral load 3 roof rafters trusses and beams. If the wall in question is parallel to the joists trusses it will likely not be load bearing. If there is chances are the walls are load bearing. Pay attention to what is directly above the wall.

Is it an outside wall. If you can see the floor joists either from the basement looking up to the first floor or from the attic looking down to the floor below note their direction. If there is another wall a floor with perpendicular joists or other heavy construction above it it is probably a load bearing wall. Generally when the wall in question runs parallel to the floor joists above it is not a load bearing wall.

Load bearing walls typically run in the same direction. An example of a load bearing wall call be seen on the right. But if the wall runs perpendicular at a 90 degree angle to the joists there is a good chance that it is load bearing. If two separate floor joists or ceiling joists intersect over a wall that wall should be considered load bearing.

An example of a non load bearing partition wall can be seen on the left. You can insert new beam into ceiling area and use joist hangers. A load bearing wall will often be. However if the attic is intended for storage the attic live load or some portion should also be considered for the design of other elements in the load path.

I think the pair of rafters on the back of the knee wall were either an attempt to add some shear or racking resistance to the roof frame or if they relate to the porch roof the framer simply laying out. However if there is an unfinished space like an empty attic without a full floor the wall probably is not bearing a load. However there are cases where a bearing wall is parallel to the joists. If the wall in question is on the second floor look to see if there is a wall in the exact same place on the floor below.

The kitchen ceiling joists and living room joists always overlap above load bearing wall. Due to the triangular shape of all but. If the wall in. Generally load bearing walls are perpendicular to the joists they support.

Roof and wall sheathing gravity and wind. Also if the knee walls are load bearing they would need a wall or posts and beam directly below to carry the load down to your foundation. When joists trusses are perpendicular to the wall and bear on the top of the wall that wall is bearing wall.