I am looking at removing an interior wall between my dining and living room and had an estimate done by which I was assured that it was not a load bearing wall but he was going to still do some additional support.
I would like to take care of this project myself and there are 3 switches and one outlet to be moved, all the wiring is through the ceiling as our home is on a slab.
I need to know what the best way is to approach this project safely and how to add additional support even though there are trusses already there.
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If the house uses a truss roof and the trusses do not bear on the wall, no additional support is needed. De-energize the circuits, test, to be sure, then disconnect any outlets or switches. If you need to relocate a switch, be sure you understand how it works so you can route it to a different wall. Cut drywall tape and compound at the corner of any ceiling or wall and remove all drywall. Dismantle the frame. Take out the studs, base sill and top-sill, pulling any wires through the top sill. When you are done, there will be a gap in the floor finish and ceiling drywall that will need to be repaired. The wires will be hanging from the opening. Those need to be joined in enclosed junction boxes on top of the truss bottom chords. Recommended tools are reciprocating saw, hammer, pry bar, wire nuts, wire cutters.
If you need to re-route wires for switches, post back. If you don't maintain continuity in the circuits to outlets, you will probably lose power at other locations. For drywall repair, the best way is to place 1x boards across the opening in the ceiling, screw into the board through the drywall on both sides, then use that board to screw in your patch. Repeat every 16 inches. Tape and finish the patch.
Remember, we are going on what you claim is a non-support wall. If true, I cannot think of any reason to add support except as needed to hold drywall in place.
If you need to re-route wires for switches, post back. If you don't maintain continuity in the circuits to outlets, you will probably lose power at other locations. For drywall repair, the best way is to place 1x boards across the opening in the ceiling, screw into the board through the drywall on both sides, then use that board to screw in your patch. Repeat every 16 inches. Tape and finish the patch.
Remember, we are going on what you claim is a non-support wall. If true, I cannot think of any reason to add support except as needed to hold drywall in place.
Thank you for your expertise, yes I will be relocating the switches, but not the outlet. The switches can be relocated to either end where the wall connects to the opposite walls. I can just pull the wires through and drop down and put in the new junction box can't I?
Be carefull. Read some other threads here on the subject of non-bearing wall. I question the validity of the opinion that it is non-Ld brng because:
the great majority of american homes have a supporting wall in that location, unless it was built using trusses for the roof
That he said he would have to do some additional support - I can't imagine what that would be if the wall is currentl;y non-load bearing. What is left to support if it suipports nothing right now?
New item - Do you need a permit to do this? Absolutely necessary in many plaes, regardless of who does th ework.
Excellence is its own reward!
the great majority of american homes have a supporting wall in that location, unless it was built using trusses for the roof
That he said he would have to do some additional support - I can't imagine what that would be if the wall is currentl;y non-load bearing. What is left to support if it suipports nothing right now?
New item - Do you need a permit to do this? Absolutely necessary in many plaes, regardless of who does th ework.
Excellence is its own reward!
