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Removing a Load Bearing Wall

Bob meets with Ron Gan, the general contractor for the project, to discuss the changes that will be made. After reviewing construction drawings, Gan is satisfied with the architect's plans to open up the narrow space. Bob and Ron go inside where Lenny from Inner City Demolition is making some exploratory holes in the ceiling to figure out the next steps in removing the load bearing wall. He has verified that the second floor joists sit on the bearing wall studs and found there is metal lath over wooden lath and arched doorways which were all added in a later renovation. The load bearing wall will be taken out and replaced with a single beam. Bob and Gan look at a section of the house and Gan shows Bob where the studs will be removed and replaced with a header to carry the weight. Through the header the weight of the floors above will be transferred down posts that go down through to the basement and are anchored on concrete footings. Before removing the wall, however, the structure must be shored up and the beam must be engineered. More information