Best way to tell if wall is load bearing?

[03mustangdude]

Crawled thru the attic could not tell.
Looking at wall in kitchen with bar area.

[IMG][/IMG]

[Country cracker]

I would say your ceiling joist are running parallel to that kitchen wall

[03mustangdude]

Not wanting to take out whole wall exactly, something like this so it wouldn't affect the joints

Also any dfwmustang guys do this professionally/on the side. This is a little more than I would like to tackle myself.

[ZYouL8R]

^ what is that?

[03mustangdude]

^ what is that?

area I want removed to make it open. Everything in shaded box.

[lowfast]

If the joist run parallel to the wall, as they most likely do, and in the attic there are no supporting elements that die on the wall it is not load bearing. For the opening you are wanting to add you could just add support above, cut the opening, and call it a day. Although from you diagram I am not sure, visually, what you are intending to accomplish. If it we me I would be more concerned with getting rid of the ugly wall in the foreground.

[03mustangdude]

If the joist run parallel to the wall, as they most likely do, and in the attic there are no supporting elements that die on the wall it is not load bearing. For the opening you are wanting to add you could just add support above, cut the opening, and call it a day. Although from you diagram I am not sure, visually, what you are intending to accomplish. If it we me I would be more concerned with getting rid of the ugly wall in the foreground.

I'm doing that regardless that's my #1 priority. I was looking at either getting the kitchen opened up or doing a master bath remodel since I have about 2-4k extra in budget.

[lowfast]

I spent about $9k on my kitchen remodel doing all the work myself, not including appliances. It was a gut down to the rock and start over affair. I would say the $2-4K would be better spent on the Master Bath. Just depends on what you had planned to do to the kitchen, $4k usually does not go far when you get into new cabinets, counters, etc.

[03mustangdude]

I spent about $9k on my kitchen remodel doing all the work myself, not including appliances. It was a gut down to the rock and start over affair. I would say the $2-4K would be better spent on the Master Bath. Just depends on what you had planned to do to the kitchen, $4k usually does not go far when you get into new cabinets, counters, etc.

Doing nothing but tearing the wall down currently. This was a forclosure bank added cheap home depot cabinets so it will stay that way for a few years till they end the lifecycle.

Most expensive bath part will be moving toilet to shower location which i'm told will be about 2k to jackhammer and expand line.

[lowfast]

Might budget a few bucks for flooring as well.

[David]

Easiest way is to take it out. See what happens from there.

[03mustangdude]

Might budget a few bucks for flooring as well.

2500 @ 1.80 sq ft for entire house with 8% variance and roundup + extra measurements for all angles.