#Are lath and plaster walls load bearing how to
#Are lath and plaster walls load bearing professional

It could be supporting the roof too so you need to be more wary.

Wall with a wall immediately above it Generally you'd stack your load-bearing walls so anything on a first floor that goes right down to the ground floor is likely to be load bearing.

A consistent wall line between floors can be an indicator of this.

Central walls Walls that run from front to rear, or side to side, are usually load bearing.

Exterior walls Any exterior walls to your building are likely to make up your property's structure and therefore are highly likely to be load bearing.

#Are lath and plaster walls load bearing professional

There are however some good indications that a wall is probably load bearing and therefore should not be touched without professional input, according to chartered structural engineer David Gallagher from Allan Corfield Structures. Likewise, non load-bearing walls can be both as well. The first point to re-emphasise here is that load-bearing walls can be blockwork or stud.

#Are lath and plaster walls load bearing how to

'The consequences of taking down a load-bearing wall without knowing what you are doing don’t bear thinking about! In contrast, non load-bearing walls act as little more than room dividers and can be easily altered or even removed.' How to tell if a wall is load bearing If you are rearranging loads, then the building inspector will almost certainly want you to employ a structural engineer to design and approve the plan. 'If in any doubt at all, then do get the building professionally surveyed so that you know what you are dealing with. In these cases, it is vital to know whether or not the internal wall is load bearing because if it is, you will need to provide an alternative means of support. 'Load-bearing walls can have a major effect on renovations, especially when you want to take down an existing wall. It needs to be a little stronger than a non load-bearing wall and, crucially, it needs extra support under it, usually an additional foundation trench. 'A load-bearing wall acts as a support for a roof, a floor, a beam or another wall above it. ' Internal walls – usually defined as room-dividing walls, as opposed to the insides of the external walls – come in two distinct flavours: load-bearing and non load-bearing,' begins Mark Brinkley, author of the popular Housebuilder’s Bible and an experienced self-builder.

Here's our expert guide on the key signs on how to tell if a wall is load bearing. If a wall does turn out to be load bearing, you'll need a structural engineer to undertake calculations for an alternative support as well as building control sign-off.