We're looking to open up our stairwell which will help our small kitchen area feel bigger. We would take out the top portion of the wall and leave a 44" high wall.
The problem we're running into is if one of the sections we are looking at taking out is part of a load bearing wall.
The truss, that sits on top of this wall, is a standard gable truss. There is a span of approx 9' that is open after this wall ends. The ceiling is vaulted (see blue shaded area on diagram below).
A few questions:
1. Do you think this wall is load bearing?
2. What is the maximum span capacity for a gable truss?
3. If you believe this is a load bearing wall, is there a way we could remove the two studs in the center and try to reinforce what is left?
We are having a structural engineer out this week to take a look at it but I wanted to see what people thought and if there are any questions we need to be sure to ask him.
Thank you!
Layout of the area - wall to be removed is in orange.
Roof trusses run from left to right on this diagram.
This is the gable truss that sits above the wall.
The problem we're running into is if one of the sections we are looking at taking out is part of a load bearing wall.
The truss, that sits on top of this wall, is a standard gable truss. There is a span of approx 9' that is open after this wall ends. The ceiling is vaulted (see blue shaded area on diagram below).
A few questions:
1. Do you think this wall is load bearing?
2. What is the maximum span capacity for a gable truss?
3. If you believe this is a load bearing wall, is there a way we could remove the two studs in the center and try to reinforce what is left?
We are having a structural engineer out this week to take a look at it but I wanted to see what people thought and if there are any questions we need to be sure to ask him.
Thank you!
Layout of the area - wall to be removed is in orange.
Roof trusses run from left to right on this diagram.
This is the gable truss that sits above the wall.