Tell If A Wall Is Load Bearing From The Attic

Using this technique you ll get a better idea of the location of the load bearing walls in your house.

Tell if a wall is load bearing from the attic.

If you do spot joists in your basement and there is a wall that runs perpendicular this wall is most likely load bearing. If the wall is located directly under the attic you can go up there to study the positions of the beams and joists. If it is a small home usually roof framing is in one direction only north south or east west. Load bearing walls cross roof beams in a perpendicular direction.

Be extra careful with the walls that have other walls above it. See if the wall runs through multiple levels. Assess your basement look in your basement or crawl space for steel beams or joists. Blueprints are always a great place to look.

Most load bearing walls will support the floor or walls above it. If the wall is parallel above the joists it s most likely not a load bearing wall. 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. Generally when the wall in question runs parallel to the floor joists above it is not a load bearing wall.

If you have walls built in the same place on each floor of the home those walls are all most likely load bearing.