Many people, especially those living in Khrushchev-era apartment buildings, try to remodel their small and uncomfortable apartments using redevelopment. But it’s one thing to do it in an individual building, and quite another to change a doorway or move a partition in a high-rise building, where almost every wall is load-bearing. All this ensures the safety of residents in combination with all technical design Houses.
What is redevelopment? According to the Housing Code, this concept includes all changes in the configuration of the apartment that require inclusion in the technical passport. This:
- changing the location of load-bearing walls and partitions,
- relocation of window and door openings,
- re-equipment of vestibules and dark storage rooms,
- interior arrangement,
- refurbishment of bathrooms,
- division of large rooms,
- expansion of living space due to household premises,
- glazing of a balcony or loggia,
- replacement gas stoves to electrical
- moving a bathroom, kitchen or toilet.
All these types of changes in the apartment are subject to redevelopment and the relevant authorities.
What cannot be demolished: a load-bearing wall
Most often, redevelopment is associated with demolition interior partitions. But not everyone knows which walls can be touched and which ones cannot. Reckless demolition of structures leads to a change in the action of forces on the remaining surfaces and rooms located below. In addition, those left without support ceilings may not withstand the load and collapse at any moment. Since, in addition to separation different rooms, the wall elements serve as ceiling supports for all similar structural elements located above.
The main (load-bearing) walls in practice are located perpendicular to the floor beams. If it is made of concrete slabs, then their ends rest on the surface of the supporting structure. Usually these are walls between apartments and blocks, or external ones. As a rule, only partitions are equipped inside the apartment.
How to find out which wall is load-bearing?
Is it possible to determine the purpose of the wall yourself? Certainly. By its thickness or the material from which it is built. In panel-type houses indoor units have a thickness of up to 120 mm. Therefore, they can be considered partitions (their thickness ranges from 80-120 mm). The load-bearing surface must have a thickness of at least 140 mm. Most often, in such houses, the external walls are made with a thickness of 200 mm. In brick houses, external, load-bearing structures have a thickness of 380 mm or more, inter-apartment structures - 250 mm, and partitions - 120 or 80 mm.
As a material for load-bearing walls in panel houses most often they use wall or inter-apartment blocks made of reinforced concrete with various additives to lighten the structure and increase thermal protection. Internal partitions in 90% panel houses made of gypsum concrete panels. In brick buildings, the main material for all walls is red and sand-lime brick, which differ in size. Gypsum concrete panels can also be used as partitions.
Of course, no one is going to demolish the outer walls, but the partitions can be removed by obtaining the appropriate permission. To accurately determine which wall is load-bearing, it is best to use BTI data - a detailed floor plan. There, all main walls are marked with thicker lines, and partitions that do not have such functions are marked with thinner lines.
What is needed for demolition?
In any case, before starting work on demolishing a particular wall and moving it, you need to consult a qualified specialist. As well as a full calculation that takes into account the distribution of loads that must be transferred from old structures to newly erected ones. In addition, you may have to change the power supply circuit. In addition, it must be borne in mind that uncoordinated demolition of the walls of the premises may prevent its sale or the preparation of donation documents, etc. But that’s not all. Such actions are considered illegal and entail fines, summonses to court, and can even lead to confiscation of the apartment.
Therefore, approval of the redevelopment project is necessary in any case. What is needed for that?
- A plan developed by the BTI service specifically for this type of redevelopment.
- Drawing up a technical report for the demolition of the wall.
- Obtaining a positive conclusion from the housing inspection at the place of registration.
9. Walls of civil buildings. Primary requirements. External and internal walls, load-bearing, self-supporting and non-load-bearing walls, partitions.
Walls- these are vertical fences that separate rooms from external environment and from each other. The walls must withstand the loads placed on them, ensure a constant temperature in the room and make it soundproof. In construction, depending on their purpose, walls are classified into external and internal. Depending on the material used, walls are made of artificial materials (concrete, brick, asbestos-cement) and natural (limestone, shell rock, tuff, wood). Depending on the perception of loads from the building, the walls can be self-supporting, self-supporting And non-structural. Bearers walls take loads from other parts of the building (floors, roofs) and, together with their own weight, transfer them to the foundations. Self-supporting The walls rest on foundations, but they carry the load only from their own weight. Non-load bearing(curtain) walls are fences that rest on each floor on other elements of the building (frame) and support their own mass within one floor.
The walls of civil buildings must meet the following requirements: be strong and stable; have durability corresponding to the class of the building; correspond to the degree of fire resistance of the building; be an energy-saving element of the building; have heat transfer resistance in accordance with thermal engineering standards, while ensuring the necessary temperature and humidity comfort in the premises; have sufficient soundproofing properties; have a design that meets modern methods of constructing wall structures; types of walls must be economically justified based on the given architectural and artistic solution, and meet the capabilities of the customer; material intensity (material consumption) should be as minimal as possible, since this greatly helps to reduce labor costs for the construction of walls and overall construction costs.
Partitions are called relatively thin walls that serve to divide the internal space within one floor into separate rooms. The partitions rest on the floors on each floor and do not carry any load other than their own weight.
PARTITIONS. Partitions must be soundproof, nailable, durable, and stable. Partitions are installed on the floor structure before flooring is laid. In places where partitions made of combustible materials adjoin stoves and chimneys, brick cuts should be arranged along the entire height so that the distance from the partition to the inner surface of the stove or chimney is at least 40 cm. FRAME. GYPSUM PARTITIONS. BRICK PARTITIONS. Brick partitions are laid 1/2 brick thick (12 cm). The basis for partitions can be concrete preparation under ground floor floors or reinforced concrete floors. Due to their significant weight, brick partitions should not be used on wooden floors. A non-load-bearing wall, or partition, can only be internal.
How to determine whether a wall is load-bearing
Many people, wanting to make their apartment more spacious, comfortable or more functional, decide to remodel their apartment. This serious decision, which accordingly requires a serious approach. It is not enough to simply make an opening in the wall or, even more so, to demolish it by combining two adjacent rooms. It is necessary to know which walls in the house are load-bearing, whether it is possible to make an opening in them or demolish them, so that this does not lead to a violation of the strength of the building and does not endanger its inhabitants. To carry out the work, it is better to contact a specialized organization that specializes in diamond cutting of concrete. In any case, the redevelopment must be agreed upon with the authority local government. Administrative punishment is provided for spontaneous redevelopment.
So. How to determine whether a wall is load-bearing?
Load-bearing walls It is customary to call walls that take on the load from the floors and roof of a building and transfer it to the foundation. The thickness of the wall depends on the material from which it is made and what load it carries. Load-bearing walls can be internal and external. Internal load-bearing walls are usually thinner than external ones - due to the lack of need for heat-insulating layers.
Designation of load-bearing walls on the plan
The first way to determine which walls are load-bearing is to look at the building plan. This can be an architectural and construction plan of a detailed design for a building or a floor plan from the BTI passport. Unfortunately, there is no standard for designating load-bearing walls on a plan. For example, in the architectural and construction plan, load-bearing walls are distinguished by separate shading, and on the BTI plan, by thicker lines, but not always. The wall can be marked with a thin line and at the same time be a load-bearing one.
Determination of load-bearing walls by thickness
The second way to find out which wall is load-bearing is by its location and thickness.
Load-bearing walls in a brick house
Wall thickness in brick houses is a multiple of the size of the brick (120 mm), plus the thickness of the mortar joint (10 mm), if there is more than one masonry. Respectively, brick walls can be 120, 250, 380, 520, 640 mm thick, etc. Mainly in brick residential buildings internal partitions are made of brick or gypsum concrete panels with a thickness of 80 or 120 mm. Inter-apartment partitions 250 mm thick made of brick or 200 mm thick from double panels with air gap. Load-bearing walls in a brick house have a thickness of 380 mm.
Most brick houses built according to standard series– these are the so-called “Stalins” and “Khrushchevs”. Both of these types have similar Constructive decisions and are made in the form of three longitudinal load-bearing and transverse walls, which support the longitudinal ones and, basically, are also load-bearing.
Also, the load-bearing walls are the walls on which the interfloor floor slabs rest (short side). Usually these are longitudinal load-bearing walls. There is an option when the floor slab rests on a reinforced concrete beam rectangular section. Which, in turn, rests on load-bearing walls or brick pillars. Interior or apartment partitions are usually installed under the beams.
Load-bearing walls in a panel house
In panel houses the thickness internal partitions ranges from 80 mm to 120 mm, made of gypsum concrete panels. And, internal load-bearing walls are reinforced concrete panels with a thickness of 140, 180 or 200 mm. External load-bearing walls in a panel house have a thickness of 200 mm. Most often these are single-layer panels made of expanded clay concrete with a thickness of 300-350 mm or multilayer panels consisting of two reinforced concrete panels with a thickness of 60 mm (external) and 80-100 mm (internal), separated by insulation. Eventually, Load-bearing walls in a panel house have a thickness of 120 mm.
Load-bearing walls in a monolithic house
With load-bearing walls in a monolithic house, not everything is clear. It is not always possible to identify them. In addition, they may not exist (for example, in monolithic frame buildings). In residential monolithic houses meet various designs. Such as monolithic load-bearing walls, columns, pylons, beams, etc. The standard thickness of walls and pylons is 200, 250, 300 mm. The diameter of the supporting columns can be more than 300 mm. The thickness of the internal walls, usually made of aerated concrete blocks, ranges from 200 mm. Thus, thickness is not load-bearing partitions is less than 200 mm. But, the opposite is not necessarily true for a load-bearing wall. Since, in monolithic houses, partitions can be more than 200 mm thick (for example, made of foam blocks).
If any of the above methods cause you difficulties, you will need to seek help from specialists from design organizations to carry out engineering survey. Most often this is necessary in the case of a non-standard construction, a building based on an individual project or an old building.
The load-bearing wall is the basis of the building; we do the redevelopment very carefully
Load-bearing walls are supporting structures
Load-bearing walls are the supports of the entire structure. After all, it is on them that the entire frame rests. Therefore, violation of this design can lead to disastrous results. Redevelopment requires special knowledge and qualifications.
Engineers and builders - only these people can correctly and competently carry out the redevelopment of the premises. Therefore, if you are planning to demolish a wall or simply make a niche, then you need to immediately contact professionals.
No matter how much work you need to do, even if you only want to make a recess in the wall, it is very important to adhere to the advice and opinion of professionals.
Start of redevelopment
Everyone knows that load-bearing walls cannot be demolished or broken. But sometimes redevelopment requires just that. First of all, you should figure out which walls are load-bearing and only after that decide what and how to do.
We do everything in the following order:
- You should start by inviting specialists from the BTI, who will issue you the appropriate permit if the redevelopment is possible and safe. The issued document indicates walls that can be demolished without compromising the strength of the apartment or house. After these procedures, you can contact architects and builders to begin redevelopment and further repair work.
- In addition, it is very important not to forget that the redevelopment must be legalized, otherwise problems may arise with the further sale of the apartment. However, it will take a lot of time and effort to legitimize the finished redevelopment.
- If you are interested in knowing in advance which walls in your apartment are load-bearing, then there are several simple ways that will allow you to install this. Each person can determine for himself which walls of the apartment are load-bearing, in order to think through future redevelopment in advance, and after receiving official results, simply adjust it in accordance with safety requirements.
Deciding to start repairing and rebuilding load-bearing walls, or making arches (see Arch in an apartment: transformation into decorative design) or doors, you need to decide how realistic it is to do this. And understand which walls in the apartment are load-bearing, what their function is and what can be done with them. Let's look at these questions in order.
What are the requirements for load-bearing walls?
Walls, ceilings, floors are load-bearing structures in principle in all buildings. Precisely walls, not partitions (see Partitions and walls - what is the difference).
They are subject to certain requirements, and if the design is changed, the requirements must be met, and they are as follows:
They must be strong, durable and stable, as they are the support of the entire building. The weight of both the roof and ceiling passes onto them.
How to determine a load-bearing wall
The walls of houses and apartments perform different functions and experience different loads. Load-bearing walls bear the load not only of their own weight, but also the weight of the ceilings. Having conceived major renovation related to redevelopment, you just need to know how to determine a load-bearing wall.
The load-bearing wall is installed perpendicular to the slab that rests on it. That is, the slab lies with its short side on the wall, giving it a significant part of its mass. Load-bearing walls are not always used in buildings. Sometimes columns or beams are installed instead. But basically, load-bearing walls are installed in residential premises during construction, which are easy to determine in some cases, but difficult in others.
Load-bearing wall - support for floor slabs
We note in advance that operations carried out with load-bearing walls, including internal installation wiring, arrangement of niches and various openings should not be carried out independently without professional skills. About arches. doorways, extended sections or partial demolition are out of the question.
How to determine which wall is load-bearing
Most easy way find a load-bearing wall - get acquainted with the house plan. On it this wall is marked quite clearly. The plan can be found in the local executive committee in the department of capital construction management. You can also use detailed plan apartment, located in the house register or registration certificate. But in this case, the owner must have some construction experience and blueprint reading skills.
You can look at such a plan together with your neighbors living on the floor above. Their design should indicate which wall their floor structure rests on. If the apartment is on the top floor, you can climb into the attic and pay attention to how the slabs are laid.
Note! If there is even the slightest bit of uncertainty, do not touch the wall under any circumstances, as this can be very expensive.
Brick load-bearing wall thickness
If it is impossible to obtain a plan, we will determine the load-bearing wall based on its characteristic features. The location of a wall can say a lot about its purpose. The walls facing the staircase hall, as well as the internal walls bordering the neighbors' apartment, are load-bearing. In addition, some external walls bordering the environment can also be load-bearing. They can form the box of a building and take on the entire load.
The next way to determine such a wall is to pay attention to its thickness. If the thickness of the brickwork is 38 centimeters or more, and if the reinforced concrete panel is more than 14 cm thick, then these walls are load-bearing. Now about this in more detail.
Brick houses
The width of the brick is 12 cm. The cement joint between the bricks takes up an average of 1 cm. Simple mathematics tells us that 38 cm is a masonry of three bricks, in which there are two joints (12+1+12+1+12=38). 51 cm – 4-brick masonry; 64 cm - 5-brick, etc. Interior walls are usually no thicker than 18 cm. The thickness of the walls is determined without taking into account plaster. Therefore, before measuring, it is better to clean the walls from old decoration.
In brick houses built in the 90s and later, the situation is a little more complicated. They were most likely built according to an individual project, and the author of the plan will help determine the load-bearing wall.
Panel houses
Load-bearing walls in a panel house
In panel or block house It is very difficult to realize your construction ideas, since most of the walls in it are load-bearing. These include inter-apartment, and external and perpendicular to external walls. The walls of the plumbing rooms are also load-bearing.
The partitions between rooms are only 80–100 mm. But there are exceptional cases when in such houses the wall thickness is 12 centimeters wide. Should it be considered load-bearing, or is it just a thickened partition? In this case, you need to turn to competent people for help, who will make a conclusion based on the architectural design of the building. They will decide whether further work can be carried out in the house or not.
Monolithic houses
How to recognize a load-bearing wall in a monolithic house? In houses whose foundation smoothly merges into the frame of the building, any wall more than 20 cm thick is considered load-bearing. However, in such houses, which are often built not according to the standard, but according to the customer’s design decision, to determine the load-bearing wall, it is not enough to be guided by dimensions alone. A simple partition in a monolithic house can be thicker than 20 cm. And there are houses where there are no load-bearing walls at all. Instead, reliable columns are used. Therefore, a building plan and drawing can be helpful. If for some reason they are not available, then a verdict from authorized persons cannot be avoided.
Permission from relevant authorities.
Many people don't want to get involved with officials and prefer to solve such important questions on one's own. But this is fraught with serious mistakes. Don’t be afraid to call specialists into your home for consultation and obtain permission. Moreover, if you find the slightest cracks, a damp or crumbled area on a wall, even if it is not load-bearing, invite an inspector who will assess the extent of the damage and give advice.
Note! Any redevelopment, regardless of the type of apartment, be it a Khrushchev-era building or a cottage house, requires the consent and written permission of the BTI or other relevant government services. Work on load-bearing walls, even if performed by a professional, also requires a permit.
If you still have to carry out some dismantling work on load-bearing walls, it should be carried out by a competent specialist who knows how to install temporary columns that take on the weight of the slab instead of the wall. Representatives of authorized organizations and engineers licensed for this construction activity must monitor the process and carry out calculations of such columns.
Note! It is impossible to sell an apartment with an illegal redevelopment, and getting a project for an already remodeled apartment will be very difficult and problematic.
There is no need to think that the planned work is insignificant and is not worth calling a team. The slightest mistake can cost the lives of many people, because an unnoticeable microcrack in a load-bearing wall can eventually lead to the collapse of the building.
Work carried out on load-bearing walls
Installation of support when demolishing a load-bearing wall
If you decide to carry out work on load-bearing walls, for example, to dig ditches, do it with the utmost caution. If there are sockets or switches on the wall. Remember that wiring is hidden inside the wall. which, if the premises are not de-energized, can damage the power supply system and cause injury to the worker. If the house is old, there may even be gas pipe. Work carefully and, if possible, use a project where all these nuances are noted.
Note! Never forget that you cannot demolish a load-bearing wall, leaving the floor without support.
If your professional skills allow you to undertake partial removal of the wall, do not forget to place a support in the resulting opening, which can be hidden over time with false beams.
Find more tips below:
Start from the lowest point in your home. To determine which walls in your house are load-bearing, it is best to start from the place that bears the main load, starting from the foundation. If your home has a basement, start here. If not, try starting from the ground floor where you can locate the lowest concrete slab. Pay attention to the walls, the system of beams of which rests directly on the foundation. Any walls that are located directly on the foundation must be considered load-bearing and demolishing them is strictly prohibited.
View the interior walls of the entire structure. Starting with a basement (or, if you don't have one, the first floor), determine the location of the interior walls. Trace each interior wall through every floor of your home - in other words, pinpoint where the wall is in relation to the floor below, then work your way up to see if the wall extends through subsequent floors. If there is another wall, a floor with perpendicular beams, or other heavy structure above this wall, then it is likely a load-bearing wall.
Look for steel beams or pile-and-beam structures. Sometimes builders use special load-bearing structures, such as steel support beams and pile-and-beam structures, to transfer some of the building's weight to the external walls. In these cases, there is a chance (but not a guarantee) that the nearest internal walls will not be load-bearing. Look for signs of large, sturdy wooden or metal structures that cross the ceiling of a room and extend onto a wall that is known to be load-bearing or external, such as three-dimensional horizontal projections that cross the ceiling.
Look for signs that the house has been remodeled. Many houses, especially old ones, have been changed, expanded and rebuilt several times. If this applies to your home, what was once an exterior wall may now be an interior wall. If so, then innocent looking interior wall may turn out to be a load-bearing structure for the original structure. If you have any reason to believe that your home has been seriously altered, best choice will turn to professionals to be sure that your exterior walls are truly exterior walls.
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We are looking for a load-bearing structure in a panel house
The most common residential buildings are panel type houses.
Depending on the series of the house, the location of the load-bearing structures is different. In any case, there are significantly more of them than partitions. One of the most simple ways definition is the thickness measurement. So, remember that basically its value for partitions in panel houses is 80–100 mm, but load-bearing ones can be 120, 140, 160, 180 and 200. When measuring the thickness, it is worth taking into account the layer of plaster. It must either be removed where the wall was measured, or subtracted from the result obtained.
In 80% of cases, the partitions of panel houses consist of plasterboard, and their thickness is 80 mm. Thus, we attribute everything that is thinner than 120 to partitions, but if the measurements are higher than the indicated figure, then the walls are load-bearing. Of course, it may happen that the figure turns out to be 120 mm. Then you should use the services of engineers who developed the layout of the house. One way or another, even if you yourself determine that this wall can be dismantled, you will need a technical opinion from engineers. Only on its basis are any redevelopments allowed.
Looking for a carrier in a brick house
Now let's talk about old brick buildings. The walls of such houses have different thickness depending on the number of bricks in the masonry. The length of a standard brick is 120 mm. Seams between brickwork have an indicator of 10 mm. Thus, if it consists of two rows of bricks, then the value will be calculated as follows: 120 + 120 + 10 = 250 mm. According to further calculations, the size of a brick wall can be: 380 mm (three rows of 120 and two joints of 10), 510 mm (four rows of 120 and three joints of 10), 640 mm (five rows of 120 and four joints of 10) .
Now we explain how to recognize a load-bearing wall in a brick house. And everything is extremely simple: again, by measuring. The walls in such houses separating the apartments are partitions and have a thickness of 250 mm (double masonry). The usual partitions between rooms are either 80 or 120. The remaining walls are load-bearing - they can be 380, 510, 640 and higher.
By the way, there are old houses with wooden floor. They can even be carriers wooden partitions. Initially they did not perform such a function, but later became a support for the floors above.
We are looking for a load-bearing structure in a monolithic house
Monolithic houses have a huge variety of layouts. Here you can only be sure that there is a partition in front of you. Therefore, if possible, you will need to find a house project, and also be sure to consult with an engineer from the developer.
Although you can again resort to the method of determining load-bearing walls by measuring the thickness. Magnitude monolithic wall maybe 200, 250, 300 and higher. Having measured it, do not rush to make hasty conclusions. So, if its thickness is less than 200 mm, then this means by 99% that you have measured the partition. But if this figure, for example, is 200 mm, then this does not always confirm the opposite. The fact is that monolithic houses involve the use of foam blocks, which are a special type of partition.
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What is a load-bearing wall?
First, find out what a load-bearing wall is and where it is located. Load-bearing walls perform an important task - they maintain the integrity of the entire structure. As load-bearing elements Sometimes columns and beams protrude, but this does not change their purpose. Since all elements of the roof and ceiling structure rest on the wall, it is important to know during redevelopment how to determine the load-bearing wall in the house.
If you demolish it, it can lead to bad consequences, starting with cracks appearing on the house and ending complete destruction designs. Unlike those carrying ordinary interior walls They hold only their own weight and also perform a separating function. To ensure that repair work is carried out safely and correctly, you should contact specialists for help. Only they know how to determine whether a wall is load-bearing or not.
Do not forget about the special permit for redevelopment, which is issued by specialists from the technical inventory bureau. It will indicate which walls can be destroyed and modified, and which are prohibited.
Methods for determining load-bearing walls
There are several ways to determine whether a house has a load-bearing wall or not. Accurate and easy to do is to study the structural plan of a house. This document is in the capital construction department. Also, do not forget about the existence of a technical passport. If the apartment owner knows how to read construction drawings, it will not be difficult for him to determine the load-bearing wall in the house.
Load-bearing walls are often determined by their thickness and location. When measuring the thickness of the wall, you must first remove the wallpaper, clean the surface from old plaster. Only after this can measurements begin. The parameters of load-bearing walls are different for all houses, for example:
- The load-bearing walls in a brick house are thirty-eight centimeters thick. The more bricks laid, the greater the thickness.
- In panel houses the situation is slightly different. Here, all walls exceeding fourteen centimeters are load-bearing. In such a house, redevelopment is difficult and almost impossible. After all, most of the walls in a panel house are load-bearing.
- In monolithic houses, walls thicker than twenty centimeters are load-bearing. In houses, it is quite difficult to determine the load-bearing wall thickness. Therefore, it is easier to take a general floor plan from the developer.
All external walls form the basis of the building, serving as support walls.
Openings
Once the load-bearing walls in the apartment are determined, certain restrictions associated with redevelopment will appear. It is impossible to completely demolish a load-bearing wall. It is better to make an opening or niche in it - this is a safer option. The number of openings in load-bearing walls is limited.
If it is necessary to make an opening in such a design, it is better to seek help from professionals. Carrying out such work on your own is dangerous, and without special permits and papers with the redevelopment done, such an apartment will become a burden.
There are situations when partial demolition of a load-bearing wall is necessary. In this case, you cannot do without an engineer. Even a small window or door opening requires appropriate permits and licenses.
Only true professionals in their field will be able to not only make an opening in a load-bearing wall, but also increase its strength. This will help avoid its destruction. A metal or reinforced concrete lintel is used to support the wall.
Load-bearing walls in a panel house
Most panel houses have a standard code for the project according to which they were built. Therefore, before you begin redevelopment, you need to know how to determine the load-bearing wall in a panel house.
To find load-bearing walls in a panel house, you can use the database of these structures. It makes it possible to see the layout of apartments from each series and choose your home using the code. Another way is to measure the walls. The thickness of self-supporting walls in a panel house ranges from 80 millimeters to 1 meter, while the thickness of load-bearing walls ranges from 140 to 200 mm. The higher the indicator, the greater the likelihood that it is a load-bearing wall. It is important to remember that demolishing it in a panel house will lead to the destruction of the building.
How to find out if a load-bearing wall in a house is made of brick?
To find out how to determine a load-bearing wall in a brick house, you need to add the thickness of the vertical mortar joint to the size of the brick. That is, the thickness depends on how many bricks are supplied. Brick walls can be 120, 250, 380 mm thick, and so on, plus finishing layers.
Load-bearing brick walls have a thickness of three hundred eighty millimeters or more. If self-supporting structures are made of gypsum concrete panels and bricks, then in this case the interior partitions will be 250 mm. Thus, load-bearing walls in brick houses have a thickness of 380 mm. If during measurements the thickness is less than 380 mm, then such a wall is an ordinary partition. Find brick houses series is more difficult than panel ones, since there are much fewer of them.
Load-bearing walls in Khrushchev
All Khrushchev buildings were built according to the same type. They have three load-bearing walls and additional transverse ones, which serve as support for the load-bearing ones and prevent them from tipping over. This list also includes the transverse walls of the staircase. They support not only load-bearing structures, but also flights of stairs, thus also becoming load-bearing.
How to determine a load-bearing wall in brick apartment? Can it be dismantled or not? The slabs that are located between floors rest on load-bearing or transverse reinforced concrete walls and beams.
If we talk about modern buildings, studio apartments are very popular. In such rooms, many manage without redevelopment, simply dividing the space with furniture. To make a smart home out of an ordinary apartment, you need to completely or partially dismantle the walls, leaving only the box. However, such global changes will negatively affect the integrity of the building, especially if it is old.
How to find a load-bearing wall in a monolithic house?
Are you interested in how to determine whether a wall is load-bearing or not in a monolithic house? These buildings have a variety of architectural and design features. They combine conventional load-bearing walls, columns, beams and rectangular columns. The thickness of load-bearing walls is 200-300 mm, and the thickness of columns in monolithic houses is an order of magnitude higher. All walls having a thickness of less than 200 mm are considered partitions.
When we're talking about about new buildings, it is easy to determine the load-bearing structures simply by examining them. They are clearly visible because they are made of reinforced concrete. Holes sealed with mortar can also be seen on the load-bearing walls.
What can you do with a load-bearing wall?
As is already known, the structure is the basis of the building and holds the main load; it must be handled carefully and carefully. Before determining whether a wall is load-bearing or not, it is worth finding out what actions are prohibited in relation to it:
- It cannot be completely demolished, as this will affect the stability of the entire structure.
- It is prohibited to move it to another place.
- It is prohibited to install wiring or conduct communications in it.
Despite these prohibitions, a load-bearing wall is not untouchable; you can make a doorway in it, create an arch or partition between rooms, or drill through it.
How to coordinate redevelopment
Before carrying out redevelopment, it is necessary to obtain permission from the relevant authorities. Since residents do not always correctly determine the type of wall covering or dismantle the load-bearing wall, these approvals are mandatory. Therefore, the question of how to determine a load-bearing wall according to the building plan can play a bad joke with residents.
Do not neglect the rules, otherwise the construction will become illegal and the owner will be fined. It follows from this that it is better to spend time on official authorities and obtain all permissions than to suffer from mistakes made.
If you are deciding whether to redevelop a room or not, you should remember that even a harmless error in calculations when performing this work can provoke serious problems. By doing this, you risk your life and the lives of other household members.
Since it is not always possible to determine the type of load-bearing wall, it is better to use the services of a specialist. Nevertheless, having decided to do the work yourself and knowing how to determine where the load-bearing walls are, be extremely careful and vigilant, because you already know what a possible deviation in calculations or reasoning regarding the type of wall covering and its nature entails.
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How to determine a load-bearing wall in a brick house?
Brick size – 12 cm;
- 250 mm walls: 2 bricks + joint (10 mm);
- 350 mm walls: 3 bricks + 2 seams;
- 510 mm walls: 4 bricks + 3 seams;
- 640 mm walls: 5 bricks + 4 seams;
Interior partitions built from blocks or bricks are only 12-18 mm. The walls between neighboring apartments are not much thicker - 25 mm.
In a monolithic type building, determining the load-bearing wall in a house is somewhat more difficult, since different values are used during construction.
Walls exceeding a thickness of 20 cm are load-bearing. However, the architectural plan of the project will help you understand more precisely, since the nuances modern construction may include various options deviations from standard sizes.
Owners of city apartments often have a question: how to determine the load-bearing wall in a panel house? Only an experienced architectural engineer can answer the question. In a panel-type house, all walls thicker than 12-14 cm are considered load-bearing. Carrying out redevelopment in a panel-type apartment is often much more difficult. The partitions are usually up to 10 cm.
2.Location relative to others;
All external walls are always load-bearing. In addition, the external walls of the building make up its box and border on the façade side of the building. The external walls of the apartment facing the staircase or neighboring dwellings are also considered the main ones.
3.According to the design of the beam overlap
All load-bearing walls are clearly perpendicular to the main structure of the support slabs. The top slabs rest on the walls with their shortened side.
What do openings in load-bearing walls indicate?
Once load-bearing walls have been identified, the owner is solely responsible for damage, deformation or pressure on the elements. Creating openings and arches in a load-bearing wall entails a lot of negative impacts on the frame of the building and negatively affects the entire structure. The occurrence of cracks, shrinkage of the house, and destruction of facade elements begins from the impact on the load-bearing wall. Depending on the duration of the building’s existence, the impact on the load-bearing wall can be completely destructive. This especially applies to multi-storey buildings old type: Khrushchev, Stalin, etc.
It is strictly prohibited for the BTI authorities to carry out complete demolition of the load-bearing space. If the redevelopment is caused by the need to replace the supporting structure, it is necessary to design the space using reliable support columns. The cross-section, dimensions and thickness of the columns are calculated by specialists from authorized bodies. The columns must support and systematically distribute the weight of all rising floors.
Typical designs of panel buildings
Before defining a load-bearing wall in a panel house , We recommend that you read standard projects panel buildings, which vary in code. First, you need to determine the series of the structure, and then familiarize yourself with the detailed version of the drawing and its features. The layout of apartments and a detailed plan of supporting structures in the drawings are highlighted using color.
Panel house project code:
- 90-05;
- 90-06;
- 90-07;
- 90-022;
- 90-023;
- 90-031;
- 90-045;
The description of each project code includes the presence of designations of the main load-bearing walls and partitions. How to determine a load-bearing wall on a plan? It is necessary to examine the drawing of the apartment in detail and indicate the thickness of the walls. On paper, load-bearing walls are indicated by denser, solid lines.
Opening or niche in a load-bearing wall?
After determining the load-bearing wall in an apartment, many ask the question of creating an opening or an additional niche in the load-bearing wall. Creating a built-in opening in many apartments in panel houses is acceptable. Compliance with the requirements of regulatory authorities is strictly mandatory. It is allowed to perform horizontal and vertical grooves on the walls of the load-bearing structure. Drilling into walls and installing internal dowels is also allowed. Individual design of a house or apartment must be entrusted to professionals who bear full responsibility for dismantling and forming load-bearing surfaces.
Ideas for designing openings in a load-bearing wall
It is prohibited to completely dismantle a load-bearing wall. However, when creating openings, there are options for decorative filling of load-bearing structures. One of the stylish proposals of designers is the formation of an aquarium system on part or the entire wall.
Options for placing aquariums between load-bearing columns:
- The aquarium in the space between the column and the additional interior partition looks stylish and decorates the apartment attractively.
- The addition of furniture with an emphasis on the aquarium system fits harmoniously into the design.
- When expanding an apartment due to the space of a balcony or loggia, window sill systems in the form of aquarium stands are often used. The built-in aquarium looks amazing and captivates the eye with a living picture.
- Built-in aqua systems in niches of load-bearing walls look great in bedrooms and living rooms.
Knowing all the rules, it is easy to determine which wall is load-bearing and planning further design will be easier with the involvement of craftsmen. The InnovaStroy company carries out repair work turnkey projects of any level of complexity in apartments, houses and offices. Planning and redevelopment of buildings does not cause difficulties for craftsmen. In addition, clients are offered innovative developments and improved comfort of living in an apartment. The company’s specialists make the client’s stay comfortable, and the list of repair work does not cause difficulties. If the question arises of how to determine whether a load-bearing wall is or not, it is necessary to determine the type of structure and know its features.
How to determine whether a load-bearing wall is in a Khrushchev building?
- It must be remembered that all the walls of the building box are load-bearing;
- Walls facing staircases, marching openings are also the main ones;
- The partition between the balcony, loggia and kitchen (room) carries a small supporting load, so it can be easily dismantled. However, before carrying out demolition of the wall, it is necessary to ensure that the entire space is properly insulated so that the cold flow does not cause damage to other walls of the room.
- You can easily dismantle the interior opening in the bathroom. The thickness of the wall can be 10-12 cm, but does not serve any main purposes.
- Panel houses are the most unfavorable for the demolition of walls.
- Before the beginning dismantling works any walls, it is important to understand that a supporting structure is required.
To answer the question of how to determine a load-bearing wall in an apartment and how many main walls can be located in a building, we recommend contacting the professional consultants of the InnovaStroy company. How to determine a load-bearing wall in a brick house? Using the above methods it will be easier. Note that the main indicators of a brick structure are easily replaced by support beams, metal or stone. When forming decorated aqua systems, there is a possibility of additional pressure on the structure. It is important to realistically assess the fragility of the structure, and, if necessary, carry out additional strengthening of individual walls of the building. Installation must be done with caution in an independent way. An error in determining the load capacity of a wall has negative impact on the condition of neighboring apartments and the entire floor. If you are in doubt about how to determine the load-bearing wall on the plan, we recommend that you seek advice from the InnovaStroy company.
Studio apartment we demolish walls without damage!
In modern designs they are extremely popular small apartments open spaces called studios. This layout is convenient for a family of 2-3 people. Many people want to remodel large apartments in the studio, dividing the interior space with furniture. This option requires complete or partial demolition of the walls, leaving only the box of the apartment.
It is necessary to understand that such redevelopment requires the creation supporting structures to distribute the main weight of the upper floors. Many professionals offer clients the use frame technologies and the creation of decorative columns and built-in niches. This option harmoniously delimits the space and does not violate the requirements of higher authorities of technical bureaus.
Let us remember that the older the structure, the more significant the fragility of the main walls. In old-type buildings, the main structures are not allowed. Therefore, dismantling is prohibited without additional supports and a detailed calculation of the weight of the floors. Masters recommend seeking help from professional architects who will help resolve the issue of redevelopment without additional costs and violations of requirements.
Renovating old-style apartments is always a difficult task, requiring the involvement of third parties. We do not recommend carrying out large-scale wall demolition activities on your own at one time. Remember that by turning to professionals, you preserve not only your own comfort, but also the comfort of your neighbors.
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How to find out if a wall is load-bearing
The easiest way is to look at the house project. All the walls are clearly marked there. The plan must be kept in the city administration, in the capital construction department.
In addition, you can also use the apartment plan, which is located in those. passport or house register. However, to do this you need to be able to read blueprints or have experience in construction.
Video: Olga Rozina: how to identify a wall
If for some reason the plan cannot be found, then the purpose can be understood by some characteristic features. So, for example, if behind the wall there is a neighbor’s apartment, an entrance or a street, these are load-bearing.
Another way to find out is by thickness. If you live in a brick house and the thickness of the partition is 38 cm, then it is load-bearing. In a panel, the thickness of the load-bearing walls is 14 cm or more.
In a brick house
In brick houses, the thickness of the exterior starts from 38 cm, between apartments from 25 cm, interior - 8 - 12 cm. The main material in the construction of such houses is silicate and red brick.
For partitions, gypsum slabs can be used. By measuring a wall, for example, in the area of a doorway, you can determine whether it is solid or a partition.
However, this method is not suitable for all homes. For example, in the 90s, houses were built according to individual projects, so if there is no plan, then only the author of the project can determine.
In panel
Since the panel house consists almost entirely of load-bearing structures, it will be very difficult to implement the planned redevelopment. Load-bearing walls include inter-apartment, external and adjacent to external walls. In addition, the walls of bathrooms can also be load-bearing.
Interior partitions have a thickness of 8 - 10 mm. There are partitions of 12 cm, but this is a rare exception. To determine the purpose of the walls in this case, it is better to contact specialists who will draw a conclusion only after studying the design features of the building and decide whether redevelopment can be done.
In monolithic houses
A monolithic house is a building whose foundation smoothly merges into the wall. In such buildings, any wall whose thickness is more than 20 cm is load-bearing. Such buildings are usually made according to an individual project; it cannot be determined using its size.
It happens that an ordinary interior partition in monolithic buildings has a thickness of more than 20 cm. There are monolithic houses in which load-bearing walls are completely absent. They are replaced by reinforced concrete columns.
And in this case, you cannot do without a drawing and plan. If they are missing, you will have to contact specialized companies.
Work carried out on load-bearing walls
When carrying out work on solid walls, remember that electrical wiring may be hidden in the wall, which, if damaged, can cause injury. Older houses may have gas pipes in the walls.
You need to work as carefully as possible and with extreme caution; if possible, adhere to project documentation. Remember that they cannot be completely demolished, as the floors will remain without support.
If partial removal is required, then supports must be installed in the opening, which can then be hidden under the finishing.
Watch the video: Which walls can be demolished in a panel
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Let's recognize load-bearing walls
Regardless of what house your home is located in - panel Khrushchev or a brick nine-story building - it will definitely have load-bearing walls and just interior partitions. The latter can actually be removed without any consequences, while violating the integrity of the former will lead to serious troubles that threaten not only your apartment, but even the entire house. But sometimes the planned project requires that a through opening be made in one specific place, or maybe the wall is completely in the way?
In any case, you should not resort to dismantling without familiarizing yourself with the floor plan. If you don’t have one at hand, contact the technical inventory bureau or try to determine the load-bearing walls yourself.
In panel houses
Without finding technical documentation for the apartment, load-bearing walls in a panel house can be easily determined by their thickness: the fact is that the main walls supporting the floor panels are always a little thicker. Thus, the minimum thickness of a load-bearing wall in a standard panel house is 12 cm, not taking into account the layer of plaster and finishing materials, and additional partitions are 2 cm thinner.
Typically, internal walls do not affect the stability of the entire house, but only serve to divide the single space of the apartment into rooms. It is allowed to begin alteration and demolition work only after all walls have been carefully measured and key structures have been identified.
And one more thing: nine-story panel houses in most cases they consist of main walls - such a structure is very reminiscent of a classic house of cards. When planning an apartment renovation in such a house, it is better to familiarize yourself with the detailed plan before starting work.
In Khrushchevka
There are several ways to understand which walls in a Khrushchev building are load-bearing:
- the first, most correct one is to study the technical documentation;
- the second method suggests paying attention to the purpose of the wall - if you have a Khrushchev building, then load-bearing walls usually divide the floor into separate apartments, and secondary walls already divide each of them into rooms;
- the same applies to areas separating the premises from flight of stairs or common corridors - they are always the main ones;
- but the wall between the room and the balcony, unlike brick houses, on the contrary, does not carry an important load, but retains heat;
- in a divided bathroom, you can safely demolish the partition - this will not affect the integrity or stability of the building in any way.
There is another way to determine which walls are load-bearing - this is by drilling: the thickness of the main partitions is such that one drill is not enough for a through hole.
Which ones can be demolished?
It is somewhat easier to remove an interfering wall in a Khrushchev-era building than in a panel house. The only partitions that can be safely removed from the panel are the wall separating the bathroom and the partition between the room and the kitchen. In Khrushchev's houses, remove (in whole or in parts) those that do not have an important function.
Under no circumstances should the main walls that hold the concrete floors be removed. Dismantling them will certainly weaken the ceiling, significantly reducing the load on the foundation. The only valid option is partial dismantling with mandatory reinforcement of the opening. And lastly: all work related to changing the layout of the premises requires obtaining special permits from the relevant authorities. Once you have received the document, get to work!
Do not neglect the mandatory stages of work - measuring the thickness of the partitions, studying the apartment plan. And the best thing is not to be lazy, and visit the BTI, and understand for sure what kind of object you are dealing with. Only in this case, after renovation, the room will not only improve, receiving an updated look, but will also remain safe for residents.
Good luck with your projects and safe repairs!
If you are planning to carry out a redevelopment, you should definitely find out which walls are load-bearing. Many owners of small-sized Khrushchev apartments are trying to turn them into spacious studios with the help of redevelopment. However, it is not at all easy to change a doorway or wall in a high-rise building, where almost every wall can turn out to be load-bearing, without threatening the safety of the remaining residents.
If the redevelopment is carried out incorrectly and the load-bearing wall is demolished, this can lead to big problems from cracks in the structure and even to the collapse of ceilings. Correct, competent and safe redevelopment can only be carried out by professionals - engineers and builders. Therefore, the first thing that is done before planning is to invite specialists from the BTI, who must give you permission for redevelopment, which will already mark all the walls that can be changed or demolished. And only after this can you discuss the intricacies of redevelopment with builders and architects.
There is another reason why redevelopment should be carried out in accordance with the rules: apartments with illegal redevelopment cannot be sold, and if such a need suddenly arises, it is quite difficult and problematic to legalize a ready-made redevelopment. But if you are interested in knowing how to determine load-bearing walls yourself, we will tell you a few simple ways.
What is a load-bearing wall?
What is a load-bearing wall? A load-bearing wall is a wall on which the structural elements of subsequent floors rest. Most often, redevelopment involves the demolition of interior partitions. But not everyone knows which walls can be touched and which ones cannot. Reckless demolition of structures leads to changes in pressure on the remaining surfaces and rooms located below. In addition, ceilings left without support may not withstand the load and collapse at any time. In some cases, load-bearing walls can be replaced with beams and columns that perform the same function - supporting the integrity of the entire structure.
What is needed to demolish a wall?
Before starting work on demolishing a particular wall and moving it, you need to consult a qualified specialist. In addition, a full calculation will be required, taking into account the distribution of loads that must be transferred from the old structures to the new ones. You may have to change the electrical layout along with the remodeling. Keep in mind that uncoordinated demolition of the walls of the premises can become an obstacle to the sale of the apartment and registration of the deed of gift, but also entail penalties, which is why it is so important to coordinate the redevelopment project. To do this, you will need a plan developed by the BTI service specifically for this type of redevelopment, drawing up a technical report for the demolition of the wall and obtaining a positive conclusion from the housing inspection at the place of registration.
What is redevelopment?
According to the Housing Code, redevelopment means changes to the configuration of the apartment, which require inclusion in the technical passport. Redevelopment includes, for example, changing the location of load-bearing walls and partitions, moving window and door openings, re-equipping storage rooms, arranging internal staircases, re-equipping bathrooms, dividing large rooms, expanding the living space at the expense of utility rooms, glazing a balcony or loggia, replacing gas stoves to electric ones, moving a bathroom, kitchen or toilet. You may not know, but all these types of changes in the apartment relate to redevelopment and require approval from the relevant authorities.
What is the difference between a load-bearing wall?
The purpose of the wall can be determined independently by its thickness or the material from which it is built. In panel-type houses, the internal blocks (or partitions) have a thickness of 80 to 120 mm, and the load-bearing wall has a thickness of at least 140 mm. Most often, in such houses, the external walls are made with a thickness of 200 mm. In brick houses, external load-bearing structures have a thickness of 380 mm or more, inter-apartment structures - 250 mm, and partitions - 120 or 80 mm. To accurately determine the load-bearing wall, it is best to use BTI data - a detailed floor plan. There, all main walls are marked with thicker lines, and partitions that do not have such functions are marked with thinner lines.
Methods for determining load-bearing walls
The easiest and most accurate way is to find a structural plan of the house, which should be kept in the capital construction department of the local executive committee. If you are able to read construction drawings, the technical passport of the apartment, which every owner should have, will tell you about the location of the load-bearing walls.
Another method involves determining load-bearing walls by wall thickness as we described above. True, there is a nuance in the case of panel houses, since most of the walls in such houses are load-bearing. There is also a nuance - the thickness of load-bearing walls in panel houses can be 12 cm, which depends on the series of the house. The thickness of the wall is measured without taking into account plaster and wallpaper, so it is better to take measurements after all the walls have been cleaned of the old finish. So what should we do? Only a qualified engineer will give you the final answer. Since there is now a huge variety of design solutions, in such houses it can be very difficult to determine the load-bearing wall simply by its thickness. For example, in a monolithic frame house, there may be no load-bearing walls at all. So only an architectural plan and a specialist’s opinion can clarify this issue.
Another way is by location. External walls make up the so-called building box and are always load-bearing. Load-bearing walls also include walls that face the flight of stairs and interior walls that face the neighboring apartment.
Look for structural clues
Start from the lowest point in your home. To determine which walls in your house are load-bearing, it is best to start from the place that bears the main load, starting from the foundation. If your home has a basement, start here. If not, try starting from the ground floor where you can locate the lowest concrete slab. Pay attention to the walls, the system of beams of which rests directly on the foundation. Any walls that are located directly on the foundation must be considered load-bearing and demolishing them is strictly prohibited.
View the interior walls of the entire structure. Starting with a basement (or, if you don't have one, the first floor), determine the location of the interior walls. Trace each interior wall through every floor of your home - in other words, pinpoint where the wall is in relation to the floor below, then work your way up to see if the wall extends through subsequent floors. If there is another wall, a floor with perpendicular beams, or other heavy structure above this wall, then it is likely a load-bearing wall.
Look for steel beams or pile-and-beam structures. Sometimes builders use special load-bearing structures, such as steel support beams and pile-and-beam structures, to transfer some of the building's weight to the external walls. In these cases, there is a chance (but not a guarantee) that the nearest internal walls will not be load-bearing. Look for signs of large, solid wood or metal structures crossing the ceiling of the room and extending onto a wall that is known to be load-bearing or external, such as large horizontal projections crossing the ceiling.
Look for signs that the house has been remodeled. Many houses, especially old ones, have been changed, expanded and rebuilt several times. If this applies to your home, what was once an exterior wall may now be an interior wall. If this is the case, then the innocent-looking interior wall may turn out to be load-bearing for the original structure. If you have any reason to believe that your home has been extensively altered, your best bet is to contact a professional to be sure that your exterior walls are, in fact, exterior walls.
Explore the history of the building
Turn yourself into a historian for a while and carefully examine your home. Find the original building plans if you can access them. Depending on the structure of your home, it may be impossible to accurately guess which walls are load-bearing and which are not. In this case, the original drawings or construction plans can be a source of valuable information. House drawings can tell you where support beams are located, which walls were originally external, etc. The original drawings can be found at the office of the relevant official structures (for example, BTI), from the former owners, from the original builder and/or. Ultimately, you can pay an architect to draw the plans for your home, although this can be expensive.
Contact the experts
Contact the original builders of the building if you can. The person (or organization) who built your home may have an idea of the exact structure of the building. If the structure was recently built, they may not even charge you for a short phone call or consultation. Even if they do, remember that a relatively small fee is nothing compared to the catastrophic destruction of the structure that can result from the demolition of a load-bearing wall.
If in any doubt, call a building inspector. If you can't figure out which walls are load-bearing, you can hire a professional building inspector. Paying a building inspector for an hour is definitely worth it if you want a safe remodel.
Hire a Remodeling Consultant
Some independent companies offer their services to building owners. Such companies may have foremen on staff, and others experienced specialists for house reconstruction. When it comes to changing a wall that you're not sure is load-bearing, these companies will be able to tell you what changes are possible, what changes are dangerous, and even definitively answer your question as to whether the wall is load-bearing or not. If you are interested in this solution, do some online research on companies in your area to ensure you choose a trustworthy, reliable company.
So, when you have managed to determine the load-bearing walls in the apartment, remember: you cannot remove the load-bearing wall completely, leaving the upper floors without support. You can remove only a small part of it, and place metal supporting structures in the resulting opening, which can then be easily hidden under false beams. Or when removing an entire wall, you need to provide strong support with studs or columns. Only specialists can determine the thickness and location of the supports.
Remember that it is very important not to neglect the opinion of professionals during redevelopment and not to engage in amateur activities, which can be fraught with consequences not only for your apartment, but also for your neighbors. As stated above, removing a load-bearing wall can cause structural weakening and even potentially life-threatening structural failure of the structure. Remember that all renovations are only half complete, so removing a non-load-bearing wall may affect the ability to alter the home in the future.
