Reinforcing Attic Floor Resting On Non Bearing Wall

Virtually any attic floor can be brought up to code it s just a matter of how much additional structural support it will require.

Reinforcing attic floor resting on non bearing wall. When joists trusses are perpendicular to the wall and bear o n the top of the wall that wall is bearing wall. Just as the name implies one carries weight above it and the other does not. Attic dek is a specially designed attic floor system that consists of 16 or 24 squares attached to the top of ceiling joists. Removing a load bearing wall and replacing it with a beam is significantly different from removing interior non load bearing walls load bearing walls are structural elements that help support the weight of the house.

Non load bearing walls also called partition walls do not support loads from above and are simply there to divide spaces if you re considering removing a load bearing wall. The outside walls are supporting the roof so they re bearing walls. Also referred to as curtain walls non bearing walls are used primarily as room dividers and generally serve no other purpose. They can be easily identified by simply looking at the joists and rafters in your attic or basement.

An example of a load bearing wall call be seen on the right. Shear walls or steel moment frames in homes with large windows or other large openings provide the strength to resist lateral loads. Deck exterior and interior load bearing walls beams girders posts and floor framing. 5 check for internal walls near the center of the house.

The weight is often referred to as the load. If the wall in question is parallel to the joists trusses it will likely not be load bearing. If they run parallel to the wall they are most likely non load bearing walls. A load bearing wall is a structural wall that may carry the weight of the roof the weight of upper floors and even the weight of a rooms ceiling.

The integrity of the overall building depends not only upon the strength of these components but also. It is carrying the weight of the ceiling. A home has two basic types of walls load bearing and non load bearing. An example of a non load bearing partition wall can be seen on the left.

Rest on the same load bearing walls as the existing. However if there is an unfinished space like an empty attic without a full floor the wall probably is not bearing a load. If there is another wall a floor with perpendicular joists or other heavy construction above it it is probably a load bearing wall.