How to tell if you have an addition on your home?

gtorob · 12-08-2008, 12:09 PM

I recently bought a house in the North end of Toronto, ON, Canada. The house was built in 1960, it is an all brick Bungalow. I want to knock down a wall in the basement to make the rec room larger. The wall turns out to be made of concrete block and room on the other side has the floor joists running in a different direction. My question is could this have been an addition? The original lot plan from the city shows the full lenght and width of the same dimensions from 1960 so I am not sure why the concrete block wall is there?

Anyone have a similar house?

thanks!

CrpntrFrk · 12-08-2008, 12:12 PM

It could have been there just to help support the floor.

RippySkippy · 12-08-2008, 12:41 PM

Yeah I'm with CrpntrFrk...most likely it was designed that way to accommodate the first floor walls, plumbing etc. I wouldn't be concerned about that. I would however be concerned about knocking out what sounds like a load bearing wall...what's the support structure that you'll be putting back?

**AtlanticWBConst.** · 12-08-2008, 01:04 PM

It's possible it could be an addition.

Regardless if it is an addition, or not, what you are proposing to do is a structural alteration. You need to get an experienced person over to evaluate this. You also need to obtain a building permit for such work.

gtorob · 12-08-2008, 01:08 PM

I will have a permit for sure and a contractor do it in the spring I am just curious as to why they have a block wall in the interior of the house. I imagine they will put another steel beam or something similar to support it.

thanks guys!

rgsgww · 12-08-2008, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtorob

I will have a permit for sure and a contractor do it in the spring I am just curious as to why they have a block wall in the interior of the house. I imagine they will put another steel beam or something similar to support it.

thanks guys!

I have a house built in 1964, It is built about the same way. All of the walls in the basement are brick.

Alot of houses Ive seen are built in that way.

Wildie · 12-08-2008, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtorob

I will have a permit for sure and a contractor do it in the spring I am just curious as to why they have a block wall in the interior of the house. I imagine they will put another steel beam or something similar to support it.

thanks guys!

Block walls are good for blocking sound! If a bedroom is adjacent to a rec room, it would the best way to limit the noise!
Also,some homes have wood-framed walls in the basement rather than wood or steel beams for bearing the house load.