- 1). Go to the basement and inspect the ceiling for metal columns or beams directly under an upstairs wall. Any walls sitting on top of these beams are load bearing.
- 2). Inspect outer walls of the home to see if they sit on the foundation footing. If they do, they are load bearing.
- 3). Locate walls that run parallel to the joists in the basement ceiling. These are not load bearing walls.
- 4). Move to the first floor and locate any walls that are near the center of the house and running parallel to the basement center beam. These are generally load bearing.
- 5). Look for posts or columns on the first or second floor. These are load bearing if connected to a wall. Sometimes columns and beams are hidden behind drywall.
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