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Load-bearing wall removal, engineered.

Find out whether a wall carries load, and get the beam design to take it out.

Request this service
A new beam and temporary shoring where a wall was removed

Do I need an engineer to remove a wall?

If the wall carries load, yes. The engineer sizes the beam and posts and shows how the load gets down to the foundation, which is what a building department reviews and a contractor builds from.

When you need it

  • You want to open a kitchen to a living room
  • You are widening a doorway or cutting a new opening
  • A contractor says the wall "is probably fine" and you want it confirmed
  • A wall was already removed and you need it checked after the fact
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  1. 1Load from the floor above
  2. 2New beam
  3. 3Post at each end
  4. 4Footing under each post

What the engineer looks at

  • Which way the floor or ceiling joists run over the wall
  • What sits on the wall above: another wall, a floor, the roof
  • What is under it: a beam, a wall, posts, or nothing
  • Where the new posts can land and what they will bear on
  • Pipes, ducts, and wiring that change how the beam can be set

What you get

  • A clear answer on whether the wall is load-bearing
  • A stamped beam, post, and footing design when it is
  • Temporary shoring notes for the contractor
  • A document the building department can review for the permit

Common questions

Can a contractor tell me if a wall is load-bearing?

An experienced one often can. Sizing what replaces it is engineering, and most building departments ask for a stamped design before they issue a permit.

Does the beam have to hang below the ceiling?

Not always. A beam can often be set flush in the ceiling, depending on the span, the load, and what is in the way. The design shows which options work.

A previous owner removed a wall. Can you check it?

Yes. The engineer looks at what was installed, says whether it is adequate, and designs a fix if it is not.

Read first

How to tell if a wall is load-bearingPractical clues that point to a bearing wall, and why you need confirmation before touching one. Removing a load-bearing wall in St. LouisThe steps, in order, for removing a bearing wall safely and legally. What is a stamped engineer letter?What a signed and sealed engineer letter is, and who asks for one.

Related services

Inspection before you buyA structural review of a house you are under contract on. Stamped engineer lettersThe signed and sealed letter a building department, lender, or contractor asked for. Decks, additions, and roof framingFraming reviews and designs for decks, porches, additions, and sagging roofs.