Assess Load-Bearing Walls
Never remove a wall without knowing what it supports. A structural engineer will determine which walls carry the weight of the roof, upper floors, or ceiling joists, and specify exactly what's needed to safely open up your living room.
Time Required
1-2 hours on site
Cost
$300-$700
Difficulty
Hire a Professional
How to Get a Structural Assessment
Hire a licensed structural engineer
A structural engineer (PE) is different from an architect or contractor. They specialize in load calculations and building safety. Expect to pay $300-$700 for a residential site visit and report.
Share your design plans
Show the engineer which walls you want to remove or modify. They'll assess each wall's role in the structure and determine what loads need to be transferred to new support beams or posts.
Get stamped engineering drawings
The engineer provides a stamped report specifying beam sizes, post locations, connection details, and load paths. These drawings are required for your building permit and guide the contractor during installation.
Signs a Wall May Be Load-Bearing
- Runs perpendicular to floor joists: Walls crossing over the joist direction typically carry ceiling or floor loads
- Located at the center of the house: Center walls often support the ridge beam or upper floor joists
- Has a wall directly above it: If there's a wall on the floor above in the same location, the lower wall is almost certainly load-bearing
- Sits on a beam in the basement: Walls positioned directly over a basement beam or foundation wall carry significant loads
- Exterior walls: All exterior walls are load-bearing in conventional framing
What the Engineer Will Specify
- Beam type and size: LVL, glulam, or steel beam with exact dimensions (e.g., 3-ply 1.75" x 11.875" LVL)
- Support posts: Size, material, and exact placement of columns supporting the beam
- Connection hardware: Simpson ties, hangers, and brackets needed for code-compliant connections
- Foundation requirements: Whether posts need additional footings beneath them
- Temporary shoring plan: How to safely support loads during construction
Pro Tips
- •Never guess: Even experienced contractors sometimes misjudge load-bearing walls. The $300-$700 engineering fee is cheap insurance against catastrophic structural failure.
- •Check your attic or basement first: Looking at joist direction from the attic or basement gives you clues, but only an engineer can confirm.
- •Original blueprints help: If you have the home's original construction drawings, bring them to the consultation. They speed up the assessment significantly.