Mud-engineers or Load Bearing questions (1 Viewer)

[FJBen]

So we are getting a place and of course looking at renovations because…why not right?

Anyways one topic is removing this wall between the kitchen/living room. I’ve never dealt with ceilings/roof lines like this even though we’ve renovated and removed walls in almost every home.

The right answer is to open up the Sheetrock, but I’m not able to do that for a bit.

Any thoughts from mud?

 

[73FJ40]

Northern Colorado, snow load?

IMO, it looks like the ridge beam is supported by both outer walls and the kitchen wall, and then the ridge beam is holding up the exposed wood rafters. If so, the rafters are actually serving as beams. My 2 cents.

 

[FJBen]

Northern Colorado, snow load?

IMO, it looks like the ridge beam is supported by both outer walls and the kitchen wall, and then the ridge beam is holding up the exposed wood rafters. If so, the rafters are actually serving as beams. My 2 cents.

It’s far western Nebraska, 20 mins from Colorado border but similar snow amounts.

My thought was the same, that it’s not load bearing but wasn’t sure. I’ve never had a ceiling like this or remodeled one.

Is it possible there is a metal post at the end, supporting that load?

 

[73FJ40]

You really need to confirm what's holding the roof up. That's quite a shallow pitched roof for rafters without joists holding the walls in place and collar beams preventing the rafters from doing "the splits".

Could there be steel members boxed inside the wood rafters?

 

[PAToyota]

What is below the floor? If basement, you may be able to see something from underneath that would indicate what is going on in the walls without cutting drywall.

 

[FJBen]

You really need to confirm what's holding the roof up. That's quite a shallow pitched roof for rafters without joists holding the walls in place and collar beams preventing the rafters from doing "the splits".

Could there be steel members boxed inside the wood rafters?

I’ll be able to tell here in a couple days. Yeah I’m a little perplexed but feel like that’s not a bearing wall. There might be a post in there?

 

[Eyedaho]

I’ll be able to tell here in a couple days. Yeah I’m a little perplexed but feel like that’s not a bearing wall. There might be a post in there?

It kind of looks like there's probably a post at the end of that wall running up to the ridge, along with one in the center of the walls at both ends of the room.

 

[FJBen]

What is below the floor? If basement, you may be able to see something from underneath that would indicate what is going on in the walls without cutting drywall.

Here is the basement. That jack pole doesn’t line up with where the wall is above it, although I’m not sure how much difference that makes.

 

[Eyedaho]

Here is the basement. That jack pole doesn’t line up with where the wall is above it, although I’m not sure how much difference that makes.

View attachment 3945315

Is that post right below the end of that wall? I bet it's carrying the load up to the ridge.

 

[FJBen]

Is that post right below the end of that wall? I bet it's carrying the load up to the ridge.

I’m pretty sure the wall is at least 3 feet over from that post.

 

[Ol Yeller]

I’m pretty sure the wall is at least 3 feet over from that post.

I’m a sparky not framer…but I’d really be surprised if the lower support didn’t match a structural upper post.

 

[Eyedaho]

I’m a sparky not framer…but I’d really be surprised if the lower support didn’t match a structural upper post.

That's what I'm thinking too. Or at least that's likely how it was engineered. I don't see how that roof load is being supported without being carried direct to the ground at those three interior points and at the building ends. @FJBen can you find out who engineered the building? It seems like a one off that was probably designed locally, in which case you could likely get the prints?

 

[Eyedaho]

That's what I'm thinking too. Or at least that's likely how it was engineered. I don't see how that roof load is being supported without being carried direct to the ground at those three interior points and at the building ends. @FJBen can you find out who engineered the building? It seems like a one off that was probably designed locally, in which case you could likely get the prints?

I would add that if the post/jack is really three feet away from the corresponding post above it, it will be easy to put one in the right spot.

 

[LC Lurker]

Here is the basement. That jack pole doesn’t line up with where the wall is above it, although I’m not sure how much difference that makes.

View attachment 3945315

What direction is that upstairs wall running in this pic? If it runs perpendicular to the joists in the basement ceiling, then that wall is very likely load bearing (meaning the wall in the kitchen runs parallel to this big wall in the basement shown in the picture)

Edit for clarity (sorta lol):

If the kitchen wall runs the direction of the yellow arrow, then I suspect it’s load bearing. If it runs the direction of my blue “arrow”, then it may not be.

 

[FJBen]

What direction is that upstairs wall running in this pic? If it runs perpendicular to the joists in the basement ceiling, then that wall is very likely load bearing (meaning the wall in the kitchen runs parallel to this big wall in the basement shown in the picture)

Edit for clarity (sorta lol):

If the kitchen wall runs the direction of the yellow arrow, then I suspect it’s load bearing. If it runs the direction of my blue “arrow”, then it may not be.

View attachment 3946145

It runs the direction of the blue arrow.

 

[FJBen]

That's what I'm thinking too. Or at least that's likely how it was engineered. I don't see how that roof load is being supported without being carried direct to the ground at those three interior points and at the building ends. @FJBen can you find out who engineered the building? It seems like a one off that was probably designed locally, in which case you could likely get the prints?

I can try and find out if they have blueprints. I haven’t see a house like this one before, but to be fair we are usually buying much much older homes.

From that 1/2 wall to the living room wall is 19’
From the 1/2 wall to end of kitchen is 13’, which used to be the end of the house.

 

[FJBen]

I would add that if the post/jack is really three feet away from the corresponding post above it, it will be easy to put one in the right spot.

It’s possibly, quite possible my memory is off. I will be able to check in a couple of days

 

[FJBen]

I appreciate the help everyone.

It’s a bit of an interesting house to say the least. I will have plenty of other questions if we close on by the end of the week. Lender went weird today and numbers were a bit off from what they said.


We buying it because it’s 2 acres, rural, tree’d in, 2 decent shops, close to the grand daughter and relatively affordable compared to most rural/land places.

Weirdness: built in 1980….cocaine was flowing…a ranch but bent in the middle, has a blue toilet, always nice and unfortunately someone built an addition all brick with a 15x30 swimming pool that’s one of the next projects…