Trying to determine if wall between kitchen and family room can be removed.
Is this wall load bearing and if so what are options to eliminate?
load-bearing
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Best Answer
Yes, the wall can be removed, but you have several issues: 1) transfer of vertical load from second floor, 2) transfer of load to posts and footings, 3) horizontal load transfer.
Because the wall was originally an exterior wall, it is considered a load bearing wall, whether it has floor joists resting on the wall or not. Removing the wall will require a new beam across the opening.
The new beam will need to be supported on each end with posts. The connection between the posts and beam will need to be correctly selected. In addition, the posts will need a connection to the floor with approximately sized connector. You are lucky that that wall was an exterior wall, so it has an existing footing. However, depending on the load from above, the footing may need to be reinforced.
Exterior walls act as horizontal shear walls (whether they’re encapsulated into interior walls or not.) Removing the wall decreases the horizontal resistance. If you live in a high wind area or seismic zone, this could be a problem.
This is a structural change and therefore requires a Building Permit with adequate plans and specifications. As others have said, I’d use an architect or structural engineer (not a civil engineer) to prepare the drawings. If you’re in a hurry, ask them when they’ll be done. This is a small job for them and could sit on someone’s desk for months before finishing it. Put this key phrase in the contract “Plans and specs suitable for a Building Permit completed by ???? “