Look at the Direction of the Ceiling Joists. The load bearing wall is a solid 2x structure that includes a half-inch plywood spacer. Install king studs, and remove the support walls. supporting the weight of the building above it: 2. One of the most important things to consider when removing a load bearing wall is this: whatever you take out, you must replace. It can assist structural members such. While non-bearing walls may be framed with wood, bearing walls are usually reinforced with materials like concrete and steel bars. Determine or estimate the design gravity loads to the wall panels. This wall is normally stacked on each flooring. The direction of the joists above your wall can be indicative of whether the wall is load bearing or not. The use of CFS is an alternative to lumber, in load bearing residential applications, has found favor in some warm, humid areas of the United States because CFS is. Load Bearing Walls. Determining whether a wall is load-bearing is a multi-faceted process that goes beyond simple observations or the “tap test. They will be able to determine whether the wall you want to remove is load-bearing or non-load-bearing. Study of load-bearing tim ber-wall elements using exper imental testing and mathematical m odelling Fig. Load bearing walls transfer loads all the way to the foundation or. These walls supports structural members such as beams, slabs and walls on above floors above. Identifying load-bearing walls in the attic . 5 = 287. This system of wood, metal connectors, fasteners and shearwalls that ties the entire frame together at critical points helps ensure that a home is capable of resisting seismic or wind loads. clear out all drywall/plaster, studs, and headers in the way of your new beam!! purchase or engineer the beam. Prefabricated CFS Wall Panels provide straighter corridors, longer spans, and complete design freedom without the constraints and limitations of cast-in-place concrete, masonry, and wood frame structures. Course 26K views How Load-Bearing Construction Works In load bearing construction, take into consideration the very important point of transferring the load from. Support Beams & Load Bearing Walls – 17 Answers to Common Questions [Update 2022] Load bearing walls are a very hot topic. For a conservative relationship between soil. I am wondering how many LVLs and what dimension they. Put lower wall stud cripples in underneath the window opening to support the windowsill, and allow water to drain by installing the windowsill at a slight 1-inch slope. 2 × 4. Customer Payment. We remove all types of load bearing walls & fix structural related problems. We Offer Services For Removing Walls, Installation of Support Beams and More. Load-bearing steel I-beam supported by jack posts. It is the lightest brick to construct non-load-bearing walls. I cannot find any information pointing to the need for an interior load bearing wall with this design. More durable against fungi and termite attack. Ultimate bearing capacity solutions are based primarily on the Theory of Plasticity; that is, the soil mass is. Removable, with only minor, easily. As an interim solution, a shear adjustment factor, CH, of 2 should therefore apply to all designs that use horizontal shear values in 1997 and earlier editions of the NDS. Any stud in an exterior wall or bearing partition may be cut or notched to. 2. Note: The fact that the contractor proposed an alternate solution that he had used many times before, shows that it is fairly common practice in my area to have separation between trusses and non. Although it is done, it is difficult to design a multi-story stacked wall line to meet this definition; therefore, most exterior wall lines are likely to be considered. Load-bearing wall structures possess high resistance to fire. 14) has a minimum horizontal load requirement of 5 psf, the residential (and commercial) framing contractor is faced with using their experience and local practice for stabilizing interior “non-load bearing” walls to the engineered wood trusses using a couple of toe-nails. Use FS = 4. 3) or other design tools). Notice how in the picture below the floor joists are running perpendicular to the wall. Demolishing an interior wall will cost between $300 and $5,000, primarily depending on whether it is load-bearing or non-load-bearing, with load-bearing ones costing the most. Estimate initially. Eco-friendly Solution. While all walls have a top plate (the beam running along the top of the wall frame, a load-bearing wall may have bolstered support with a double top plate, suggests architectural designer Carmen Cervantes, founder and CEO of Reno to Forever. Load Bearing Structure. It is an ideal solution for structural support offering economy in the number of products used, style in. Add the temporary walls about 3 feet. When the units are to be solid grouted, the 10% limit does not apply and Footnote C establishes a. While it’s always better to hire professional help, such as a structural engineer, architect, or contractor, and consult with them to confirm that a wall is load-bearing, you can also do it. Cut an opening at 21 7/8-inch from either side of the bearing wall (assuming it’s 4 1/2-inches wide) so you end up with a 48-inch opening to patch when you’re done. Also, remember, you can add results from beams together using the. If the wall in question is parallel to the joists/trusses, it will likely not be load-bearing. Some walls also need plumbing or electrical work, which will add to the final price. If the wall runs perpendicular (at a 90-degree angle) to the joists, there is a good chance that it is a load-bearing wall. 4). Will the height of the horizontal feeder be such a nail(s) and or screw(s) to support shelving, or hanging a picture(s), or hanging other item(s) on the wall where the horizontal feeder may in direct. co. This creates cracking in the walls. Work with a contractor that can address all surrounding issues at once in one lump sum to cut down on travel and overhead fees. Another strategy to reduce the loads tributary to exterior walls is to use beams and columns in the same plane as, or just inboard of, the exterior walls. Load-bearing walls are essential for supporting floors and roofs. Current building codes and standards provide no requirements and limited guidance for the. If a wall has a beam, column, or other wall directly below it or following its same path or has purlin bracing attached to the top of it, it is a load-bearing wall. But nowadays, they are. When budgeting for your project, consider the cost of demolishing a load-bearing wall and the extra steps it entails. Check your ceiling — Take a look at your ceiling to identify any load-bearing beams that run across the house. Ultimate bearing capacity solutions are based primarily on the Theory of Plasticity; that is, the soil mass is. The load on a stud is often much greater than the shear capacity of the screws attaching the track to the stud flange. Complete Building Solutions describes a load-bearing wall as the structure that supports the weight of the roof or floor above by transferring the weight to the foundation. 23 x 12. A load-bearing wall or bearing wall is a wall that is an active structural element of a building, that is, it bears the weight of the elements above said wall, resting upon it by. This price can easily increase and even reach $10,000 if you have a home with more than one level. ft. Types of Load Bearing Wall The different types of load bearing walls can be listed as follows:In Full Internal. On a non-load-bearing wall (a gable-end wall), the header space can often be left open so it can be insulated like the rest of the wall. 325 City of Industry, CA 91746. This type of brick is the same as the Facade Bricks but the difference is, it has large rectangular holes in the sailor or bedside of the bricks. A fink truss is a well-known roof truss type having a W shape between the chords. This type of brick is the same as the Facade Bricks but the difference is, it has large rectangular holes in the sailor or bedside of the bricks. A wall is a load-bearing wall if a beam, column, or other wall is directly below it or follows the same course. In some. And from an external wall at the very left of the photo (West) through to a wall that is just to the right of the photo (East) - the other way (East to West). Header Size Load Bearing Wall. This wall is normally stacked on each flooring. Varies with the application. 7. Full performance data. Is the 2 x 4 wall considered a load bearing wall? Electrical safety hazard. It can be constructed as both interior wall and exterior wall. We have yet to bring in the structural engineer, but that’s the next step. Any walls beneath these beams are probably also load-bearing. Full performance data. Load-bearing walls are important to any home. Determine or estimate the design lateral loads to the wall panels. If a ceiling drops a half-inch right after a load bearing wall has been removed, then that is a concern. The weight of the structures they support is often referred to as the “load,” and load-bearing walls are designed to transfer the force of the load down into the home’s foundation. For interior load-bearing walls, only gravity loads are considered. In our case we noticed loading once the two vertical posts were removed. (column, pier, or wall) and invariably are referred to as spread footings. If a staircase is installed, the walls next to it are usually load bearing. , Weber F. Extension of Existing Building 6. Secure the beams together using engineered screws. (385) 300-8322. It doesn’t need beams and columns. Pony walls fall. Notching and boring of beams or girders is prohibited unless determined through structural analysis. These load-bearing walls are one of the earliest used form of construction, and as they. Openings can be spanned by timber or reinforced concrete beams. relating to how much something can carry…. Walls with windows or doors requiring a beam for support will increase costs. Some bearing walls are easy to spot. Retail packs include (1) Offset. Existing CFS Designer V1. While insulating load-bearing walls can cost $1 to $5 per square foot, studs. Terms in this set (37) Cold-formed steel (CFS) is used in load-bearing walls, non-load-bearing walls, floors and roofs. 1(2) 9 Maximum of 3 stories IRC Section R101. You gotta jump up on those kips before they knew what hit ‘em. These walls are typically constructed using masonry or block materials and are commonly found in the outer walls of a building. Types of Walls. 054 inch thick (1. The precaution that can be suggested is to provide a bearing plaster over the brick wall, which helps in having a smooth contact with the floor over it. Order of Solution The initial order of solution can be divided into the following categories: 1. They are planned to carry the entire load, including their load. This is true at both the base and top track. Low: For basement walls that bow only slightly, the cost of repairs may run between $4,000 and $8,000. Estimate initially. A Average of measurements on a minimum of 3 units when measured as described in Test Methods C140 (ref. The width of the strip foundation is determined by the permissible ground pressure and the load of the building. Protect. 01. Types of Load Bearing Wall The different types of load bearing walls can be listed as follows: In Full Internal. If it is load-bearing, they can help you design a suitable replacement plan from. They are arguably the best alternative to support your load-bearing wall. Knock out bearing wall studs with a sledgehammer. Interior load-bearing walls rest on the foundation, bearing the load of the house and everything above the wall, from the second floor (if there is one) to the roof. Main Wall. 00 to £7000. Distri-bution headers, shear walls and miscellaneous hot rolled steel shapes may also be incorporated into the wall system. Some walls also need plumbing or electrical work, which will add to the final price. What’s above that?” says Rhodes. If helical tie-backs are required, each tie-back can cost as low as a couple hundred dollars to $1,000, with total project averages running. If a wall has a beam, column or other wall directly below or following its same path, it’s a load-bearing wall. ”. A load bearing wall supports loads of a structure, such as floors, equipment, furniture, and people. Two basic types of walls are found in home construction: load-bearing walls that support overhead weight and partition walls that do not support any weight. Use of non-shrinking mortar will be preferable. Load-Bearing Walls: Load-bearing walls are responsible for transferring the weight of the slabs or floors above them to the foundation. 1972. Thnx in advance!Wall-panel Prefab has embraced the use of prefabricated and LEAN Construction through the use of light-gauge steel framed wall panels, roof trusses, and floor systems and we have become a leader in this type of construction. But you should be able to tell whether or not a wall is load-bearing on your own. (LSF) load bearing wall stud can provide, delivering the most ei cient LSF load-bearing stud member available. Mid: For mid-range wall bows from 3 to 4 inches, the cost could run between $8,000 and $15,000. A load-bearing wall carries a load of the structure from the roof and upper flooring transfers to the foundation or other suitable frame members. g. Wall Assembly. If required a bituminous coating can be applied over the plaster applied. Go upstairs and see if the wall continues from below. These walls can be used. The combination of the 3-hour fire rating assembly and larger CFS stud sizes results in slightly smaller units at the lowest level but rarely. The major difference between load bearing structure and framed structure is members which carries the structural load and transferring the load to the subsoil. Most brick veneer buidlings are actually wood-frame buildings; the wood-frame wall is the load-bearing wall. Wall and utility rerouting – $5,000-$10,000. Place a stud under each ceiling joist and use two or three 3- inch #10 deck screws. The vast majority of the world's high-rise buildings use a concrete-and-steel framework on which the outer walls simply 'hang'. No. Structural engineers inspect and. Measure, cut, and install the support posts. -. These walls can be used. If the truss moves downward, as it will under snow loads or before it is. Ceilings that sag a quarter or even a half of an inch are not always a sign that a load bearing wall has been removed, since over time ceilings may sag naturally. Walls in the center of a building usually support. The minimum structural thickness for load-bearing earth wall is 250mm. Two-story wall – $10,000-$20,000. The typical brick veneer wall is non-structural. Any structural element that uses the wall as a transfer mechanism to the foundations would be considered load bearing e. Odds are very high that an entire section of wall will need to be removed and a new wall made of block will be installed. Load-BearING waLLS 73 7. Non-load bearing walls do not bear any weight. 036 inch. It also allows for the use of fiberglass insulation. Selfweight at midheightIn this context G+11 storey residential building with precast reinforced concrete load bearing walls has been attempted for analysis. These walls also carry their own weight. Get a free quote. Leave a 1 / 16 -inch gap between the nail heads in the clip’s vertical leg and the face of the hardware for some flex. 1, R606. From economical concrete cement to superior Dura Guard Microfibre cement, from ready-to-use concrete to waterproofing solutions, we offer an array of building materials. The house's roof framing consists of collar and rafter ties with the rafter ties sitting directly on exterior walls and are also acting as the ceiling joists. Prep the walls to receive the beams. 3(5) 11 With TJI® joist floor ystems, load-bearing walls must stack directly over bearing walls or s beams below. A) Look at any given wall you think you will want to remove. Start at the lowest point of the house. A few different characteristics make a wall load-bearing. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Nail a double 2x10 to the interior-facing side of the inside wall, at the top against the floor joists 4. Some builders who use truss clips lay the truss right on the wall plate, but we recommend a ½-inch gap between the top of the wall and the truss. Generally, if a wall is load bearing, these joists will be perpendicular to the wall. The posts function is to transfer the weight above it to the ground, so filling in the rotted parts of the wood with epoxy is just hiding the problem. At the ends, use metal hurricane straps to connect the beam to the jack studs. When the wall runs parallel to the floor joists, it typically is not a load-bearing wall. A load bearing wall supports loads of a structure, such as floors, equipment, furniture, and people. New joists installed between this new wall and the other wall now carry the load of the upper floor. Load Bearing Pros is a Specialist in Load Bearing Wall Removal in Utah. Therefore, before opening the wall, it is advisable to seek the advice of a construction expert. 3. 2 10 Maximum stud spacing: 24" on-center IRC Table R602. To add a non-load-bearing wall, start by laying out the new wall where you want it to go. 5") wide loadbearing clay brick to support this stair so it has the same appearance as the. Floor, ceiling, and roof loads from above are common loads that bear down on a bearing wall. Multi-Story House. AFS Logicwall ® is a fibre cement permanent formwork solution for internal and external concrete walling above-ground. on center can be up to 20 feet in height (Table 3). In a house that has an unfinished basement, finding the beams— typically a metal I-beam or a multi-board wood beam—is a good indication of where the weight of the. applied at the top of the walls are more effectively spread in running bond than in stack bond. (385) 300-8322. ” Indeed, columns. Interior non-load-bearing partitions often remain intact and protect occupants from falling debris even as the roof and load-bearing walls fail. , Citation 2012). Remove the loose concrete and apply ending agent to join old and new concrete. Find these by measuring or by studying the floor plan of your house. Briefly, structural masonry is a construction system in which the walls of the building perform a structural function, using masonry units arranged in a way that is self-supporting and load. The steps needed to replace a load-bearing wall with a support beam will ultimately hinge on the specifics of your property. See moreAlong the top, toe-nail the beam to each ceiling joist. Reprinted from Product iQ with permission from UL Solutions, ©2022 UL LLC. 4(D) Building codes. (column, pier, or wall) and invariably are referred to as spread footings. See the photo below. Non-Load Bearing Wall Removal Cost. Use Terzaghi’s equation and assume general shear failure in soil. The old joists are no longer necessary for carrying any load, but. To determine if a wall is load-bearing, you can:1. Wall above - there is possibility that if another wall. It bears, or carries, no weight from loads above it; it only bears its own weight. Learn more. The wall is a poor candidate for a pocket door if: Pipes or electrical wires run through it . Abstract: As the height of the building increases, loads on load-carrying structures increase dramatically, and as a result of the development of high-rise construction, several structural systems of such buildings have been developed: frame, frame-frame, cross-wall, barrel, box-type, box-to-wall ("pipe in pipe", "Trumpet in the farm"), etc. Load-bearing walls support the weight of the structure above, such as the roof or upper floors. Keller, TX Location. Although closely spaced columns do occur in multiple column bents, they are rarely. Our company mission is to help people build safer, stronger structures — and that starts with incorporating a continuous load path. That is, any wall perpendicular to one or several beams is a load-bearing wall. To achieve this 18’ X 19’ family sized kitchen with a clean ceiling, 31 lineal feet of load bearing wall had to be suspended at 9’. +36-1-463 3451 Fax +36-1-463 3450 E-mail: kpankhardt@yahoo. Interior load-bearing walls shall be constructed, framed and fireblocked as specified for exterior walls. Although closely spaced columns do occur in multiple column bents, they are rarely. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you through the process: 1. Note the building paper/house wrap over the top of the rigid insulation to provide a slip surface and to protect the assembly from liquids spilled on the finished floor during service. If the drywall is open, this process will be much easier. Therefore, the header would need to be made from doubled 2x6s. Call Now to Know the Cost. Diaphragm wall panels, designed and constructed as reinforced deep foundation elements (or barrettes), can be used as an alternative to drilled piles. C. Check the wall top plate. Exterior WallThe standard thickness of rammed earth walls is generally 300mm. A structural reinforced concrete bearing wall in a single-story building provides gravity load resistance for the following applied loads: Roof uniform dead load = 120 kN/m Roof uniform live load = 150 kN/m The assumed bearing wall section is investigated after analysis to verify suitability for the applied loads then comparedTap the wall surface One of the most well known ways to quickly check if an internal wall is a load-bearing, structural wall or a non load-bearing wall is to tap briskly on the wall surface. factory is a state-of-the-art facility specifically designed to roll, form, and assemble load bearing walls and floor truss assemblies. SECTION R601 GENERAL. The construction costs for removing a load-bearing wall in a single-story home can range from $2,000-$5,000. Demarcating Spaces: The Structural Artists in Play – Load-bearing walls have solutions for your spatial needs. If the bearing wall or post above doesn’t line up closely enough with a bearing wall, post, or beam below, the floor joists in between can be overstressed, causing severe deflection. Tearing down a load-bearing wall without proper temp support can lead to devastating consequences. Removing a load-bearing wall and replacing it with a beam is significantly different from removing interior non-load-bearing walls. Most homeowners pay $529 on average. Tear out the bearing wall. The cost of removing a load-bearing wall can vary greatly depending on a number of factors such as the size of the wall, the type of construction, the location of the property, and the level of difficulty of. 3. Openings can be spanned by timber or reinforced concrete beams. CFS members are generally used as framing members in exterior cladding in buildings of. com Received: June 30, 2004 AbstractTrue. Area A: I think you are correct, the wall is non- load bearing. 7 Drilling and notching—studs. Order of Solution The initial order of solution can be divided into the following categories: 1. build a “sacrificial wall” to hold the load while removing the current structure supports. Build a temporary wall to support the weight; Remove the section of the wall that you want to get rid of; Remove the studs; Install the columns or the support beam; Reinstall the studs on the sides of the opening; Destroy the temporary wall; Complete the finishing touches around the opening in the load-bearing wall. Basement Foundation. Abstract. However, if you have access to free or low-cost stones, you can lower this cost. And from an external wall at the very left of the photo (West) through to a wall that is just to the right of the photo (East) - the other way (East to West). LBEs can support large axial loads and high bending moments. Both rely on the addition of a bearing beam to take on the load that had been absorbed by the wall being removed. SDPW14312: 2x: 220: 145: 145: NA: 220:. factory is a state-of-the-art facility specifically designed to roll, form, and assemble load bearing walls and floor truss assemblies. Walls that are stacked may be load-bearing. If the joists run parallel to the wall, the wall. In multistory wood buildings, the lack of load path under non load bearing walls often becomes a serviceability issue leading to cracks in drywall. It’s important to note that this cost does not include the cost of any necessary structural support that may need to be added after the wall is removed. You will need to look at the floor/ceiling joists. If the truss moves downward, as it will under snow loads or before it is. SECTION R605 PARTICLEBOARD. The structural system consists of load bearing walls and one. This is our new load-bearing wall. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. H iring a structural engineer costs anywhere from $344 to $740, depending on the type of services and size of the project. A load-bearing wall (or bearing wall) is a wall that bears a load resting upon it by conducting its weight to a foundation structure. Thickness: load-bearing walls are bulky and robust, depending on the function they fulfill. In addition to identifying potential refuge areas, the Best Available Refuge Area checklist may also help identify retrofit options for existing homes in order to further improve safety and minimize. from the bearing wall. Exterior WallThe standard thickness of rammed earth walls is generally 300mm. The code commentary to the definition of a non-load-bearing wall states: This definition is necessary since the structural requirements and fire-resistance-rating requirements in the code vary for nonload-bearing. (203 mm) thick reinforced concrete masonry walls with a specified compressive strength, f’m, of 1500 psi (10. Load-bearing walls are critical to the structure of your home. The use of CFS is an alternative to lumber, in load bearing residential applications, has found favor in some warm, humid areas of the United States because CFS is. ft. If helical tie-backs are required, each tie-back can cost as low as a couple hundred dollars to $1,000, with total project averages running around. The best solution is to use a column or a beam as a replacement for the missing part as beams and columns can bear the same load as the original wall. 4 Insulating concrete. If you remove a load-bearing. In this video I go under my floorboards to show you some Victorian wall construction and explain why a solid brick wall isn't always structural or even that. Strip footing: Strip footing runs beneath load-bearing walls to help maintain the stability of a structure. Complete Building Solutions describes a load-bearing wall as the structure that supports the weight of the roof or floor above by transferring the weight to the foundation. If you plan to remove a wall in your home, your first step is figuring out how to tell if a wall is load-bearing. Height limitations depend on the gauge of the steel used, dimensions of the stud, stud spacing and the allowable deflectio n limit. If you have a multi-level home, the cost to remove a load-bearing wall climbs. (203 mm) thick reinforced concrete masonry walls with a specified compressive strength, f’m, of 1500 psi (10. Multifamily Fire-Resistance-Rated Wall Assemblies. from Arup London & Arup San Francisco. Prefabricated CFS Wall Panels erect quickly and easily, and require fewer. If the insulation is in good shape, it can be reused. Load bearing wall panels can be used in a post and beam-type design system serving market sectors of multifamily housing. 1(2) 9 Maximum of 3 stories IRC Section R101. When degraded building floors need to be replaced, composite sandwich panels are a potentially interesting solution, namely for buildings with load-bearing rubble masonry walls. Mr P Jasper Kingspan Steel Building Solutions Mr O Rogan Metek UK The work in producing this publication has been funded by The Steel Construction Institute. Load-Bearing Walls Exterior load-bearing walls support both axial and lateral loads. I cannot find any information pointing to the need for an interior load bearing wall with this design. In most homes, you can remove any portion of a load-bearing wall. A design solution created specifically for architects and builders, W-Wall is the first two-hour fire rated load-bearing wall assembly tested and approved for use with open cell spray foam. When determining a header size load bearing wall, measure the span in feet and add two to that number. Fig. Exterior lateral load-bearing curtain wall systems; Axial load-bearing exterior walls; Interior load-bearing walls; Rafters, purlins, and girts; Super Stud Building Products Structural stud and track products comply with the following: ASTM A1003 for Specification of Sheet Steel; ASTM C955; ASTM A653 (formerly A446 & A525)If there is another wall, a floor with perpendicular joists, or other heavy construction above it, it is probably a load bearing wall. “Shifting around the infrastructure of your house is possible, but you will need. If a header was installed to span a large gap, a supporting wall on both ends would be needed. This article throws light upon the twelve major types of cracks in walls. Sledge ‘em all at once. This is the quickest and easiest way to tell if the wall in question is load-bearing. SECTION R604 WOOD STRUCTURAL PANELS. Their expertise, attention to detail, and adherence to legislation ensure a smooth and successful process from start to finish. Live and dead loads are given in the building code. He suggests following the wall (above and below). 3(5) 11 With TJI® joist floor ystems, load-bearing walls must stack directly over bearing walls or s beams below. 00, however, the average cost is around £3500. Load bearing walls serve as the structural spine of a building, offering crucial support to various elements like the roof, upper-floor walls, and sometimes even chimney stacks. This rule of thumb seemed to be consistent with what I had observed as a contractor as being typical of header details in the. Wall Removal;. The consecutive load-bearing walls are laid one over another on each floor. The term “load-bearing walls” is intended to refer to wall elements that support part of the structural framework of a building. Exterior wall studs that have been sistered have insulating surrounding them. 2 Design for axial load 75 7. 1-800. a Load-bearing walls which support loads from floors and roof in addition to their own weight and which resist side pressure from wind and, in some cases, from stored material or objects within the building,. Reinforced (or mechanically-stabilised) soil is becoming a standard way of forming cost-effective walls and bridge abutments on roads and railways, instead of the more. They’re more eco-friendly. Some builders who use truss clips lay the truss right on the wall plate, but we recommend a ½-inch gap between the top of the wall and the truss. use common material dimensions (24-inch grid) as a basis for design to maximize material use and minimize waste and 2. 7 MPa, which is considerably higher in comparison with similar non-load bearing partition walls systems such as hollow blocks and AAC blocks (Prakash et al. Learn about all Load Bearing Tracks products here! Products. Note: 20 gauge is approximately 0. If your wall turns out not to be a load-bearing wall, you still need to consider what’s inside that wall before taking it down. When the wall runs parallel to the floor joists, it typically is not a load-bearing wall. Heavier, ‘dull’ thud – strongly suggests a load-bearing wall.