Removing a load bearing wall 20ft in a ranch home

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

I need to remove a load bearing wall in a ranch home that span 20ft. There is not load on top, except for the roof and rafters. The home is located in Wisconsin.

I am wondering how many LVLs and what dimension they should be, to remove the lad-bearing wall. I am comfortable doing the work, but rather consult with someone who knows something about this type of work.

I am thinking about using four of 1 3/4" x 11 7/8" x 22' LVL 1.9E (Menards® SKU: 1061624)

Featured Answer

Dubyel

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

Telling someone who wants to remodel to just buy a new house isn't very helpful or practical in most cases. The only vision the architect of my 1969 ranch house had was to tick off all the must-haves of the day, so it's a typical 600 sq ft living area divided into separate, cramped kitchen, den, living/dining rooms. The wall between the kitchen and den turned out to be a sheet of plywood, with bookcases on one side and cabinets and appliances on the other - a real architectural treasure! I opened the space up with beams in the attic to carry the load and create a usable living space. To the original question, if you don't know how to calculate what you need, you absolutely must consult with someone who knows what they are doing to help you. I consulted an experienced remodeling contractor before I purchased my house to make sure what I wanted to do was feasible and affordable.

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Comments (11)

Steve J
7 years ago
Time for you to consult a structural engineer.
ksc36
7 years ago
"There is not load on top, except for the roof and rafters." .... and ceiling, attic floor and snow. It's gonna be a big beam to span 22' ( 18" plus maybe). Hire a competent contractor to do the job, he can probably get the engineering for free.
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kudzu9
7 years ago
No one can look at that picture and responsibly give you advice. In fact, you would be foolish to believe any specific advice posted here. The whole thing, including what is above that wall and the various forces bearing on this structure, needs to be examined by a structural engineer, and computations need to be done. If you proceed without professional help, you may well regret it. In my area, work like that needs to be permitted, and to get a permit would require that a licensed engineer submit a plan as part of the application.
User
7 years ago
That isn't going to even work well functionally for the home. Start over with someone that understands the huge problems that creating open concept out of a home that was not designed to be open concept. It's an expensive way to devalue it and mess up the layout.
User
7 years ago
"There is not load on top, except for the roof and rafters."

That says it all about your understanding. Heed the above posts - get a Contractor and insure the attendant Structural Engineering evaluation is included!
kudzu9
7 years ago
SaltiDawg-

Amen!
User
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
"Wow! Sorry, .... (stupidity follows.)"

This is the kind of moronic advice you were counseled above not to follow!

I REPORTED THE ABOVE POST BY "ANDREW Z."
PRO
PRM Custom Builders
7 years ago
Opening a closed off house has a lot of structural issues, that will come up. Consult and hire a contractor.
PRO
Flo Mangan
7 years ago
I have held back my comment on this but I feel compelled to say if you proceed without expert structural engineer, take out a life insurance policy now. “Just roof????” Yes, the whole roof can come crashing down. Please take the advice before you do anything get a licensed structural engineer to give you a written report with recommendations.
DavidR
7 years ago
Trying to make your house into something the architect never meant it to be may or may not be possible, but it's never going to be easy. If you want an open floor plan, the better, cheaper, and less life-disruptive way to get it is to buy a house with one and move. Sell your present house to someone who actually likes walls (yes, such people exist).