[adrien02]

Hello, I have a 1960's tri-level. The Lower level is 25' x 25' on slab and block. A ledge steel beam divides the room that run perpendicular to the floor joists support by a steel column (in the middle) and block on the ends that supports the upstairs wall. I want to remove 13' of a 25' wall that runs parallel to floor joists and perpendicular, which is located in the center of the room joists are 2 x 10, 16 OC.
I had 3 contractors look at it and they all said it wasn’t load bearing. I was all set to signed a contract when, the last contractor told me that it was load bearing, because there is a wall on top of it. One contractor said since I was building a 12' wall under the steel beam that wall would become a load bearing wall. At this point, I'm totally confused. I don't know if it is worth it to get a structural engineer or not. Because if is load bearing, I don't want to put in a header (basement already have low ceilings).
All walls that have a wall on top load bearing. Instead of adding a header, could the existing beam be replace with a steel beam that is Support on each end. How would the wall be supported while doing this (it is running parallel to the wall that I want to replace?


Thanks

[rtw_travel]

I can't quite picture your layout. Is it possible to post a picture or drawing?

A couple of comments though:
a) having a wall over a wall does not mean the lower wall is a bearing wall. They could both be non-bearing walls.
b) if there are no proper bearings (beams or posts) under your lower wall, then you should hope that the lower wall is non-bearing!
c) a new wall built under the steel beam does not make that wall bearing. Nothing has changed: the bearing is still the steel beam.


What does the attic look like over the upper wall? i.e. which way do the rafters go & does it support any of the roof?

[adrien02]

Hi, The red line on lower level is the wall I want to removed. The joists and rafters all run parallel to the wall. The wall above the steel beam is the main support wall for the second floor.

[rtw_travel]

Thanks. That's much clearer. As a tri-level, it may be bearing: it depends on the roof design

Can you look in the attic over the upper red wall? Is there any portion of the roof that would be supported by the red wall? If so, then it is a bearing wall. If not, then it should be a non-structural wall.

Another check is to look at the floor slab in the basement (or is it finished?). Bearing walls will have their own foundation. This is usually visible as a small upstand of concrete under the wall that is slightly higher than the regular slab floor. Non-bearing walls will just be built right onto the slab.

Hope this helps

[ballengerb1]

A general rule of thumb is that a load bearing wall runs perpendicular to the joists and rafters, not parallel. RTW has given you some good info.