How to Determine if a Wall Is Structural on a Ranch Style House

Structural walls keep the house from falling down.

Walls in homes come in two styles -- non-load bearing and load bearing. Non-load bearing walls play no role in the structural integrity of the house. They divide the interior space and can be removed without any effect on the house. Load bearing walls, on the other hand, are structural. They support the weight of the walls, floors and roof above them. They include the exterior walls of the house and walls on which the ends joists rest. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Note the location of the wall in question before climbing into the attic.

2. Climb into the attic and determine the direction of the ceiling joists. The ceiling joists will have one end sitting on the exterior wall of the house, while the other end will sit either on the opposite outside wall or on a partition wall in the interior of the house.

3. Locate the wall in question while in the attic. If the wall is perpendicular to the joists and the end of a ceiling joist rests on the wall, the wall is structural. If the wall is parallel to the joists or if joists that cross the wall rest on both exterior walls, the wall in not structural.

References

• American Wood Council: Details for Conventional Wood Frame Construction