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marcy7 · Dec 27, 2007, 09:43 AM

I want to remove about 6 feet from an interior wall. The rafters run parallel with the wall but the reason I think it's load-bearing is because one of the trusses rests on the middle of the wall with a lateral x across it.
I have existing pictures and a drawing of "the existing" and what is "proposed: and can email or fax it to somebody interested in bidding on doing a drawing.

The opening would connect a living room and kitchen of a house built in 1946 in Long Beach, CA.

The exterior perimeter seems to be cement walls. I want to also move where the stove was (gas pipe and vent) to the south (cement) wall and need to know how to move the gas pipe along that wall since it is cement. I imagine that the gas pipe would have to run outside the cement wall and wonder if that is "to code"?

The foundation is slab, the plumbing is in the attic (which is nice and dry, straight and easily visible.).

As I mentioned, I have detailed pictures of everything.
Thanks,
Marcy
[email protected]

remodeling4u · Oct 18, 2008, 08:23 PM

Marcy,

I would say that your wall is not load bearing if it is running parallel to your rafter. Normally a load bearing wall is running perendicular to the trusses.

hkstroud · Oct 19, 2008, 06:30 AM

Post pictures by clicking on "Go Advanced" below. Then click on "manage attachments", browse for pictures then click up load.

leifweaver · Feb 21, 2010, 09:05 AM

Marcy7, If the other trusses that hold the rafters are identical (same shape, bracing, and size of components) and some of them are not resting on a wall during their span, then you can assume that the trusses are free-spanning and that it incidental that it is over the wall. If, however, all the other trusses that are similar are over walls as well, it is a pretty safe bet that they are resting on the walls and the walls are load bearing. Another way to check, if this wall is on the 2nd floor - if it is load bearing, there will be a wall underneath it (possibly offset by a foot or so).

If your truss IS load bearing, there is usually a relatively easy solution. You can turn it into a box beam by adding plywood to it. You MUST have the box beam designed by an engineer or architect, because the shear force at the ends of the truss must be calculated to be sure that it will be safe.

Good luck.