How to determine if a wall is load-bearing or not?

Start coordinating the redevelopment of the apartment or non-residential premises, and the redevelopment itself as a whole, follows from the definition of load-bearing walls, because touching them can lead to disastrous consequences, including the collapse of the building. Redevelopment of load-bearing walls (partial dismantling, construction of an opening, etc.) in accordance with Article 26 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation must be carried out on the basis of the corresponding redevelopment project. coordinating it with the author of the house, etc. Despite this, examples of redevelopments are becoming more and more widespread on the Internet every day (for example, ivd.ru). where designers playfully demolish load-bearing walls, not paying attention to the fact that this is illegal and, moreover, can lead to a violation of the strength of the building. In this article we will try to answer the questions in detail " How do you know if a wall is load-bearing or not?" And " How to find out which walls in an apartment are load-bearing? "

Definition of load-bearing walls. How do you know if a wall is load-bearing or not?

1. Load-bearing walls in a panel house.

In most cases, panel and block houses have a standard series, that is, the code of the project according to which they were built. To begin, use the already announced website nesprosta.ru to determine the series of your house at its address. Then find a description of your standard series on the Internet, on our website, on the developer’s website, etc. The descriptions usually indicate the thickness of the load-bearing walls in a panel house of this series.

So, how to determine the load-bearing wall in a panel house? To get started, you can use our database of load-bearing walls of typical house series. There are layouts of apartments in each series, highlighting the load-bearing walls in color.

The second way to find out which walls are load-bearing in a panel house is to measure their thickness. In general, in panel buildings the thickness of partitions varies from 80 to 100 mm. The thickness of the load-bearing walls is from 140 to 200 mm. In 90% of panel houses, the internal partitions are 80mm thick gypsum concrete panels. internal walls - reinforced concrete load-bearing panels with a thickness of 140, 180 or 200 mm. In some old series of panel houses there are load-bearing panels with a thickness of 120 mm. Thus, if the thickness of the measured wall is less than 120mm. then this means that it is a partition, and if more, then it is a load-bearing one. It should be noted that the finishing layers of walls (plaster, wallpaper) can make adjustments to its thickness, however panel houses usually they do not exceed 50mm. and do not have a significant impact. True, if possible, for the purity of measurements plaster layer It's better to remove it.

If you cannot measure the thickness of the wall directly (for example, between rooms), then you can measure it using the “third size”:

Wall thickness: s= c-a-b;

It should be noted that demolition of a load-bearing wall in a panel house is unacceptable. This is guaranteed to lead to deflection or collapse of the ceiling.

2. How to understand whether a brick house is a load-bearing wall or not?

The thickness of a brick wall is a multiple of the brick size (120mm): 120mm+10mm (thickness of the vertical mortar joint)+120mm. and so on. Thus, brick walls can have the following thicknesses: 120, 250, 380, 510, 640mm. etc. + finishing layers. The thickness of a load-bearing brick wall starts from 380 millimeters and above. In 90% of brick residential buildings, internal interior partitions are made of brick or gypsum concrete panels with a thickness of 120 and 80 mm. accordingly, inter-apartment - 250mm. made of brick and 200mm. made of double panels with an air gap. The load-bearing wall in a brick house can have thicknesses of 380, 510 and 640 mm. Thus, if the thickness of the measured wall in the apartment turned out to be less than 380mm. then it is a partition, and vice versa.

There are much fewer brick houses built in series than panel houses, and therefore it is much more difficult to find a description of them. However, most brick houses capitals are Khrushchev and Stalin buildings with very similar design solutions. Let's take a closer look at them.

Load-bearing walls in Khrushchev and Stalin buildings.

So, what are the load-bearing walls in Khrushchev? All types of residential Khrushchev houses are a structural design with three longitudinal load-bearing walls (highlighted in green) and transverse walls-diaphragms of rigidity (highlighted in blue), which ensure the stability of the longitudinal load-bearing walls (prevent them from tipping over). Transverse walls staircase(highlighted in blue) not only provide stability to the longitudinal load-bearing walls, but also serve as support for flights of stairs, i.e. are also load-bearing.

Interfloor floor slabs rest either directly on longitudinal load-bearing walls:

Or on reinforced concrete transverse walls and beams of rectangular section (usually 200x600 (h) mm), which in turn rest on longitudinal load-bearing walls:

In the latter option, and it is more common than the first, the transverse walls no longer act only as rigidity diaphragms, but also as load-bearing ones, since the interfloor floors rest on them. The direction of laying the slabs can be seen by the rusts (joints of the slabs). Usually, apartment and interior partitions are installed under reinforced concrete beams so that they are not conspicuous.

Apartment layouts, number of rooms, beam spacing, etc. may be very different, but the design itself does not change.

Everything that was said above about the Khrushchevs also applies to the Stalinists. In Stalin buildings, the same structural scheme with three longitudinal load-bearing walls prevails, however, they have greater architectural expressiveness and, as a result, more complex structural designs of staircase and elevator units, and wall rotations.

Below are plans for apartments in Khrushchev and Stalin buildings, indicating load-bearing walls and structures:
1.

As can be seen from the presented materials in Stalin and Khrushchev buildings, quite often everything interior walls are non-load-bearing partitions, which is very convenient for redevelopment and creative design ideas.

3. Load-bearing walls in monolithic houses.

How to determine a load-bearing wall in an apartment in monolithic house? Monolithic houses are the most diverse in their architectural and structural design. Residential monolithic buildings usually combine monolithic load-bearing walls, columns, and pylons (columns of rectangular cross-section). and beams, etc. Often pylons are “recessed” into external walls and internal partitions. The thickness of load-bearing walls in a monolithic house is usually 200, 250 and 300 mm. The dimensions of the columns are even larger. Thus, if you measured the thickness of the wall and it turned out to be less than 200mm. then this is a partition. The opposite is unfortunately not true. If you measured the wall and its thickness was, for example, 200mm. this does not mean that it is load-bearing, because in monolithic houses partitions can reach a thickness of 200mm. and more (for example, from foam blocks).

If you have a monolithic new building, then the easiest way to find out comprehensive information about the load-bearing walls of your apartment is to ask management company or sales department your floor plan from the architectural section of the building project (“worksheet”):

Usually this is not difficult, and on the plan itself the internal load-bearing walls, partitions, and dimensions are clearly visible. Load-bearing walls usually highlighted with separate shading.

If the apartment is located in a new building and its finishing has not yet been completed, then which walls are load-bearing can be determined by visual inspection. Load-bearing walls in such buildings are made of monolithic reinforced concrete, which is externally easily distinguishable from brick, foam blocks and other materials from which partitions and non-load-bearing walls are made. Also, on the load-bearing walls in such houses, holes caulked with mortar are clearly visible, which were left from the formwork ties during the construction of the wall.

4. How are load-bearing walls indicated on the plan?

Many people ask us the question: “How to determine load-bearing walls on a plan?” Unfortunately, there is no special designation of load-bearing walls on the drawings. If this is an architectural and construction plan from a detailed design for a building (an example is shown in the figure above), then the load-bearing walls are highlighted with the same shading. Load-bearing walls on the BTI plan or on ordinary plans from the Internet are usually shown to be thicker than partitions, but not always. The wall in such plans can be drawn as thin, but in fact be a load-bearing one. Therefore, we do not advise you to rely on dubious plans in this matter. Based on the apartment plan, only an experienced specialist can determine the load-bearing walls. who has already seen one such apartment and knows their design features.

Of course, there are other signs of determining load-bearing structures, but they already require certain knowledge, experience and skills in construction, and therefore are not given here. I hope you found this article useful. Let me remind you that you can always ask us your question in the appropriate section.

5. Is it possible to touch load-bearing walls?

Below we will briefly consider the work that can and cannot be carried out on load-bearing walls during redevelopment.

5.1. Is it possible to demolish a load-bearing wall in an apartment?

It is strictly forbidden to dismantle an entire load-bearing wall in a house of any type in accordance with clause 11.3 of Appendix No. 1 of Moscow Government Decree No. 508. Firstly, such dismantling will lead to a significant violation of the strength, stability and safety of use of the entire building. Secondly, such redevelopment cannot be agreed upon, and if it is identified, a lot of money will have to be spent on development project documentation on restoration bearing capacity such a wall.

5.2. Is it possible to move a load-bearing wall?

It is prohibited to move a load-bearing wall for the same reasons as described in the previous paragraph.

5.3. Is it possible to make a passage in a load-bearing wall?

It is possible to make an opening in a load-bearing wall in many cases. However, many requirements must be met. We discussed in detail the possibility of such redevelopment and the requirements for it in a separate article.

5.4. Chasing a load-bearing wall.

It is prohibited to make horizontal or vertical grooves in load-bearing walls for electrical wiring or water supply pipes in accordance with clause 11.1 of Appendix 1 to Moscow Government Decree No. 508.

5.5. Drilling a load-bearing wall.

Drilling into load-bearing walls for installation of dowels or other fasteners is permitted. It is even possible to install small through holes for wiring ventilation through the wall, sewer pipes and water supply pipes.

We hope that our article answered the question: “How to find out the load-bearing walls in an apartment?” We also recommend that you read the article on how to coordinate the redevelopment of an apartment or non-residential premises.

Having bought an apartment, people often think about remodeling it. Residents have the same thoughts. small apartments, the so-called “Khrushchevka”. And if in a private house with redevelopment problems rarely arise, then in a high-rise apartment, where almost every wall is load-bearing, this will not be easy to do.

They bear the load from the ceilings and upper floors. Therefore, when planning to expand a doorway or move a partition, you should correctly determine which wall is load-bearing. The safety of you and your neighbors will depend on this.

How to find out if a wall is load-bearing

The easiest way is to look at the house design. All the walls are clearly marked there. The plan must be kept in the city administration, in the capital construction department.

In addition, you can also use the apartment plan, which is located in those. passport or house register. However, to do this you need to be able to read blueprints or have experience in construction.

Video: Olga Rozina: how to identify a wall

If for some reason the plan cannot be found, then the purpose can be understood by some characteristic features. So, for example, if behind the wall there is a neighbor’s apartment, an entrance or a street, these are load-bearing.

Another way to find out is by thickness. If you live in a brick house and the thickness of the partition is 38 cm, then it is load-bearing. In a panel, the thickness of the load-bearing walls is 14 cm or more.

In a brick house

IN brick houses the thickness of external ones starts from 38 cm, between apartments from 25 cm, interior - 8 - 12 cm. The main material in the construction of such houses is silicate and red brick.

For partitions, gypsum slabs can be used. By measuring a wall, for example, in the area of ​​a doorway, you can determine whether it is solid or a partition.

However, this method is not suitable for all homes. For example, in the 90s, houses were built according to individual projects, so if there is no plan, then only the author of the project can determine.

In panel

Since the panel house consists almost entirely of load-bearing structures, it will be very difficult to implement the planned redevelopment. Load-bearing walls include inter-apartment, external and adjacent to external walls. In addition, the walls of bathrooms can also be load-bearing.

Interior partitions have a thickness of 8 - 10 mm. There are partitions of 12 cm, but this is a rare exception. To determine the purpose of the walls in this case, it is better to contact specialists who will draw a conclusion only after studying design features buildings and decide whether it is possible.

In monolithic houses

A monolithic house is a building whose foundation smoothly merges into the wall. In such buildings, any wall whose thickness is more than 20 cm is load-bearing. Such buildings are usually made according to individual project, it is impossible to determine using its size.

It happens that the usual interior partition in monolithic buildings has a thickness of more than 20 cm. Yes monolithic houses in which load-bearing walls are completely absent. They are replaced by reinforced concrete columns.

And in this case, you cannot do without a drawing and plan. If they are missing, you will have to contact specialized companies.

Let's say you saw how luxuriously your neighbors, who are about to move into it, have remodeled their apartment, but your new home has not yet reached the renovation stage. So, the first thing you definitely need to do is find out how to determine whether a load-bearing wall is or not.

Some residents believe that in new houses there is no such concept, and this phenomenon - a load-bearing wall - is just a relic Soviet way construction of residential buildings. Don't believe it! A load-bearing wall is any wall that takes on the weight of some other structure. It doesn’t matter at all what it will be, because the main thing is that it is above the carrier.

In most modern new buildings, all the walls that are located around the perimeter of the apartment are load-bearing, since the ceiling evenly distributes the load on each of them. But don't rush to conclusions. It is more likely that the load-bearing walls were chosen by the chief architect taking into account the peculiarities of communications, or some other reasons shaped the layout of the building.

First, let's look at ways to distinguish a load-bearing wall from an ordinary dividing wall, based on the type of house: brick, monolithic, panel.

Yes, I definitely have a brick house. Where is the load-bearing wall?

If you know for sure that your house was made of brick, and you do not have access to see the direction of the interfloor slabs, then determining the load-bearing wall will be much easier, based on its thickness. It will exceed the mark of 38 centimeters. This wall is the most powerful in a residential area.

Do not forget that the carrier can be not only an interior one, but also outer wall. This refers to structures that face the street on one side. Windows can be built into them, and a little later I will explain how this is possible.

Does a monolithic house have a load-bearing wall?

Naturally, even in a monolithic house there are certain parts of it that are subject to a more serious load than the rest.

Due to the fact that monolithic houses do not have any standard options and are unique buildings in all their forms, you will encounter a problem that only the author of the building can help solve. In any case, if you are planning a redevelopment, you need permission from certain authorities that will give the go-ahead for the demolition or deformation of any walls in your apartment.

What to do with a panel house?

If you are the happy owner of a residential property in a panel house that has just been built, you have simplified your task in finding load-bearing walls. Yes, someone thinks that panel houses- this is not the best that the world has come up with, but their versatility and practicality will give odds to any of their fellows.

In houses of this type, the wall you need can be found quite easily. The load-bearing ones will be those whose thickness exceeds the size of fifteen centimeters, external walls buildings and their inter-apartment analogues.

Walls that are less than ten centimeters thick can easily be destroyed or partially demolished. Naturally, it all depends on your desires and design decisions.

Universal for all types of houses

In any type of house, be it panel or brick, the load-bearing walls will be those that are located perpendicular to the slab placed on top of them. That is why they receive most of the load on themselves and in no case can be completely destroyed. Is it possible partially? Yes, but it’s too early to talk about this.

You can’t just take half the apartment and demolish it

Now you know how to find out what you need. But, dear reader, if you are planning to redevelop an apartment, this process must be legalized. I'll explain why. You see, any change in the position of the rooms and, accordingly, the partitions between them affects the square footage of the living space, which can further affect the price of your property in the event of sale.

Speaking in simple language, you simply may lose money due to the fact that you did not arrange the redevelopment on time. In addition, no buyer would want to enter into a purchase agreement for a property that does not have a floor plan that is accurate. Moreover, not a single notary will agree to formalize this transaction, since, in principle, your apartment does not exist, and in its place there is something unknown to anyone.

Another reason for the ban on amateur activities in terms of solving this issue is that, due to ignorance, it is possible to block not only the walls own apartment, but also the whole house. There have been numerous cases when the slightest deformation of a load-bearing wall led to the complete destruction of multi-story buildings.

Why did this happen? This, like many problems of humanity, happens from complete ignorance and irresponsibility. Harmless transfer process front door half a meter to the side can deprive people of not only a roof over their heads, but also lead to casualties.

What about doors and windows?

The question may arise in everyone’s head about why, with such a heavy load, it is possible to install doors and windows quite adequately and reliably. This is where everyone’s least favorite university subject, “Strength of Materials,” comes into play. This is exactly the moment when calculations and calculations help a person.

Just like when building a bridge, the weight is distributed evenly across all the supports. When erecting a house, the slabs are laid with the expectation that a large weight will be distributed equally over the solid parts of the structure in order to preserve the cavities intended for windows and doors. This is why moving on your own can lead to disaster.

Naturally, there is a solution

You can always find a way out of any situation, and this problem was no exception. The first and only thing you should definitely do is to seek help from experienced and, most importantly, qualified specialists. In this matter, it is not enough that the master will say: “We have done this a hundred times.” The hundred and first may not work out.

Under no circumstances should you start making cavities or removing load-bearing walls yourself! This can only be done by a specially trained person. Do not forget that only the decision of certain authorities can allow you to redevelop your apartment, since in this case you will receive new documents corresponding to the new plan.

What can you do with a load-bearing wall?

There are several ways that will lead to excellent design solutions and expansion of living space or its more rational use.

The first thing you can do is install decorated columns. Some consider this thing slightly inconvenient, based on the uselessness of the “post in the middle of the room.” However, the right interior design will help the columns fit into general view apartments. Separate question, if you are making columns not at home, but in office space, creating something similar to Open Space (open space) for your employees or freelancers distracted from the general business.

If you just want to expand the room, then it is better to do it visually. You can increase the space of the room with the help of mirrors, light wallpaper or paint, reducing the amount of bulky furniture in the form of grandma's closets and mezzanines, which are lined up in three or even four rows.

Also consider decorative arches, which do not create a closed space, as doors do, and visually expand the volume of the room. An arch is not an ordinary semicircular structure that is designed to simply be walked through. In capable hands and with the participation experienced designer even the most hopeless object can be turned into a work of art.

This is what we got

Let's draw a line under what we just discussed. To independence we say: “Basta!”, and accept the right decision. Incorrect placement of a load-bearing wall is not a death sentence, but only a small task for the imagination and flight of fancy. Don't be afraid to experiment and take risks. Only then will you taste the champagne of victory in your new luxurious abode.

How to determine whether a wall is load-bearing

Many people, wanting to make their apartment more spacious, comfortable or more functional, decide to remodel their apartment. This is a serious decision, which accordingly requires a serious approach. It is not enough to simply make an opening in the wall or, moreover, to demolish it by combining two adjacent rooms. It is necessary to know which walls in the house are load-bearing, whether it is possible to make an opening in them or demolish them, so that this does not lead to a violation of the strength of the building and does not endanger its inhabitants. To carry out the work, it is better to contact a specialized organization that specializes in diamond cutting of concrete. In any case, redevelopment must be coordinated with the local government. Administrative punishment is provided for spontaneous redevelopment.

So. How to determine whether a wall is load-bearing?

Load-bearing walls It is customary to call walls that take on the load from the floors and roof of a building and transfer it to the foundation. The thickness of the wall depends on the material from which it is made and what load it carries. Load-bearing walls can be internal and external. Internal load-bearing walls are usually thinner than external ones - due to the lack of need for heat-insulating layers.

Designation of load-bearing walls on the plan

The first way to determine which walls are load-bearing is to look at the building plan. This can be an architectural and construction plan of a detailed design for a building or a floor plan from the BTI passport. Unfortunately, there is no standard for designating load-bearing walls on a plan. For example, in the architectural and construction plan, load-bearing walls are distinguished by separate shading, and on the BTI plan, by thicker lines, but not always. The wall can be marked with a thin line and at the same time be a load-bearing one.

Determination of load-bearing walls by thickness

The second way to find out which wall is load-bearing is by its location and thickness.

Load-bearing walls in a brick house

The thickness of the walls in brick houses is a multiple of the size of the brick (120 mm), plus the thickness of the mortar joint (10 mm), if there is more than one masonry. Accordingly, brick walls can be 120, 250, 380, 520, 640 mm thick, etc. Mainly in brick residential buildings internal partitions are made of brick or gypsum concrete panels with a thickness of 80 or 120 mm. Apartment partitions 250 mm thick made of brick or 200 mm thick made of double panels with an air gap. Load-bearing walls in a brick house have a thickness of 380 mm.

Most brick houses built according to standard series– these are the so-called “Stalins” and “Khrushchevs”. Both of these types have similar constructive solutions and are made in the form of three longitudinal load-bearing and transverse walls, which support the longitudinal ones and, basically, are also load-bearing.

Also, the load-bearing walls are the walls on which the interfloor floor slabs rest (short side). Usually these are longitudinal load-bearing walls. There is an option when the floor slab rests on a reinforced concrete beam of rectangular cross-section. Which, in turn, rests on load-bearing walls or brick pillars. Interior or apartment partitions are usually installed under the beams.

Load-bearing walls in a panel house

In panel houses, the thickness of internal partitions ranges from 80 mm to 120 mm, made of gypsum concrete panels. And, internal load-bearing walls are reinforced concrete panels with a thickness of 140, 180 or 200 mm. External load-bearing walls in a panel house have a thickness of 200 mm. Most often these are single-layer panels made of expanded clay concrete with a thickness of 300-350 mm or multilayer panels consisting of two reinforced concrete panels with a thickness of 60 mm (external) and 80-100 mm (internal), separated by insulation. As a result, Load-bearing walls in a panel house have a thickness of 120 mm.

Load-bearing walls in a monolithic house

With load-bearing walls in a monolithic house, not everything is clear. It is not always possible to identify them. In addition, they may not exist (for example, in monolithic frame buildings). In residential monolithic buildings there are various designs. Such as monolithic load-bearing walls, columns, pylons, beams, etc. Standard thickness walls and pylons are 200, 250, 300 mm. The diameter of the supporting columns can be more than 300 mm. The thickness of the internal walls, usually made of aerated concrete blocks, ranges from 200 mm. Thus, thickness is not load-bearing partitions is less than 200 mm. But, the opposite is not necessarily true for a load-bearing wall. Since, in monolithic houses, partitions can be more than 200 mm thick (for example, made of foam blocks).

If any of the above methods cause you difficulties, you will need to seek help from specialists from design organizations to carry out engineering survey. Most often this is necessary in the case of a non-standard construction, a building based on an individual project or an old building.

The load-bearing wall is the foundation of the building; we do the redevelopment very carefully

Load-bearing walls are supporting structures

Load-bearing walls are the supports of the entire structure. After all, it is on them that the entire frame rests. Therefore, violation of this design can lead to disastrous results. Redevelopment requires special knowledge and qualifications.

Engineers and builders - only these people can correctly and competently carry out the redevelopment of the premises. Therefore, if you are planning to demolish a wall or simply make a niche, then you need to immediately contact professionals.

No matter how much work you need to do, even if you only want to make a recess in the wall, it is very important to adhere to the advice and opinion of professionals.

Start of redevelopment

Everyone knows that load-bearing walls cannot be demolished or broken. But sometimes redevelopment requires just that. First of all, you should figure out which walls are load-bearing and only after that decide what and how to do.

We do everything in the following order:

• You should start by inviting specialists from the BTI, who will issue you the appropriate permit if the redevelopment is possible and safe. The issued document indicates walls that can be demolished without compromising the strength of the apartment or house. After these procedures, you can contact architects and builders to begin redevelopment and further repair work.
• In addition, it is very important not to forget that the redevelopment must be legalized, otherwise problems may arise with the further sale of the apartment. However, it will take a lot of time and effort to legitimize the finished redevelopment.
• If you are interested in knowing in advance which walls in your apartment are load-bearing, then there are several simple ways that will allow you to install this. Each person can determine for himself which walls of the apartment are load-bearing, in order to think through future redevelopment in advance, and after receiving official results, simply adjust it in accordance with safety requirements.

Deciding to start repairing and rebuilding load-bearing walls, or making arches (see Arch in an apartment: transformation into decorative design) or doors, you need to decide how realistic it is to do this. And understand which walls in the apartment are load-bearing, what their function is and what can be done with them. Let's look at these questions in order.

What are the requirements for load-bearing walls?

Walls, ceiling, floor are load-bearing structures in principle in all buildings. Precisely walls, not partitions (see Partitions and walls - what is the difference).

They are presented certain requirements and if the design is changed, the requirements must be met, and they are as follows:

They must be strong, durable and stable, as they are the support of the entire building. The weight of both the roof and ceiling passes onto them.

How to determine a load-bearing wall

The walls of houses and apartments perform different functions and experience different loads. Load-bearing walls bear the load not only of their own weight, but also the weight of the ceilings. Having conceived major renovation related to redevelopment, you just need to know how to determine a load-bearing wall.

The load-bearing wall is installed perpendicular to the slab that rests on it. That is, the slab lies with its short side on the wall, giving it a significant part of its mass. Load-bearing walls are not always used in buildings. Sometimes columns or beams are installed instead. But basically, load-bearing walls are installed in residential premises during construction, which are easy to determine in some cases, but difficult in others.

Load-bearing wall - support for floor slabs

We note in advance that operations carried out with load-bearing walls, including internal installation Wiring, arrangement of niches and various openings should not be carried out independently without professional skills. About arches. doorways, extended sections or partial demolition are out of the question.

How to determine which wall is load-bearing

Most easy way find a load-bearing wall - get acquainted with the house plan. On it this wall is marked quite clearly. The plan can be found at the local executive committee in the department of capital construction management. You can also use detailed plan apartment, located in the house register or registration certificate. But in this case, the owner must have some construction experience and blueprint reading skills.

You can look at such a plan together with your neighbors living on the floor above. Their design should indicate which wall their floor structure rests on. If the apartment is on the top floor, you can climb into the attic and pay attention to how the slabs are laid.

Pay attention! If there is even the slightest bit of uncertainty, do not touch the wall under any circumstances, as this can be very expensive.

Brick load-bearing wall thickness

If it is impossible to obtain a plan, we will determine the load-bearing wall based on its characteristic features. The location of a wall can say a lot about its purpose. The walls facing the staircase hall, as well as the internal walls bordering the neighbors' apartment, are load-bearing. In addition, some external walls bordering environment, can also be load-bearing. They can form the box of a building and take on the entire load.

The next way to determine such a wall is to pay attention to its thickness. If thickness brickwork is 38 centimeters or more, and if the reinforced concrete panel is more than 14 cm thick, then these walls are load-bearing. Now about this in more detail.

Brick houses

The width of the brick is 12 cm. The cement joint between the bricks takes up an average of 1 cm. Simple mathematics tells us that 38 cm is a masonry of three bricks, in which there are two joints (12+1+12+1+12=38). 51 cm – 4-brick masonry; 64 cm – 5-brick, etc. Interior walls usually no thicker than 18 cm. The thickness of the walls is determined without taking into account the plaster. Therefore, before measuring, it is better to clean the walls of the old finish.

In brick houses built in the 90s and later, the situation is a little more complicated. They were most likely built according to an individual project, and the author of the plan will help determine the load-bearing wall.

Panel houses

Load-bearing walls in a panel house

In panel or block house It is very difficult to realize your construction ideas, since most of the walls in it are load-bearing. These include inter-apartment, and external and perpendicular to external walls. The walls of the plumbing rooms are also load-bearing.

The partitions between rooms are only 80–100 mm. But there are exceptional cases when in such houses the wall thickness is 12 centimeters wide. Should it be considered load-bearing, or is it just a thickened partition? In this case, you need to turn to competent people for help, who will make a conclusion based on architectural project buildings. They will decide whether further work can be carried out in the house or not.

Monolithic houses

How to recognize a load-bearing wall in a monolithic house? In houses whose foundation smoothly merges into the frame of the building, any wall more than 20 cm thick is considered load-bearing. However, in such houses, which are often built not according to the standard, but according to the customer’s design decision, to determine the load-bearing wall, it is not enough to be guided by dimensions alone. A simple partition in a monolithic house can be thicker than 20 cm. And there are houses where there are no load-bearing walls at all. Instead, reliable columns are used. Therefore, a building plan and drawing can be helpful. If for some reason they are not available, then you cannot do without a verdict from authorized persons.

Permission from relevant authorities.

Many do not want to get involved with officials and prefer to solve such problems important issues on one's own. But this is fraught with serious mistakes. Don’t be afraid to call specialists into your home for consultation and obtain permission. Moreover, if you find the slightest cracks, a damp or crumbled area on a wall, even if it is not load-bearing, invite an inspector who will assess the extent of the damage and give advice.

Pay attention! Any redevelopment, regardless of the type of apartment, be it a Khrushchev-era building or a cottage house, requires the consent and written permission of the BTI or other relevant public services. Work on load-bearing walls, even if performed by a professional, also requires a permit.

If you still have to carry out some dismantling work on load-bearing walls, it should be carried out by a competent specialist who knows how to install temporary columns that take on the weight of the slab instead of the wall. Representatives of authorized organizations and engineers licensed for this construction activity must monitor the process and carry out calculations of such columns.

Pay attention! It is impossible to sell an apartment with an illegal redevelopment, and getting a project for an already remodeled apartment will be very difficult and problematic.

There is no need to think that the planned work is insignificant and is not worth calling a team. The slightest mistake can cost the lives of many people, because an unnoticeable microcrack in a load-bearing wall can eventually lead to the collapse of the building.

Work carried out on load-bearing walls

Installation of support when demolishing a load-bearing wall

If you decide to carry out work on load-bearing walls, for example, to dig ditches, do it with the utmost caution. If there are sockets or switches on the wall. Remember that wiring is hidden inside the wall. which, if the room is not de-energized, can damage the power supply system and cause injury to the worker. If the house is old, there may even be gas pipe. Work carefully and, if possible, use a project where all these nuances are noted.

Pay attention! Never forget that you cannot demolish a load-bearing wall, leaving the floor without support.

If your professional skills allow you to undertake partial removal of the wall, do not forget to place a support in the resulting opening, which can be hidden over time with false beams.

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Many people, especially those living in Khrushchev-era buildings, try to remodel their small and uncomfortable apartments using redevelopment. But it’s one thing to do it in an individual building, and quite another to change a doorway or move a partition in a high-rise building, where almost every wall is load-bearing. All this ensures the safety of residents in combination with all technical design Houses.

What is redevelopment? According to the Housing Code, this concept includes all changes in the configuration of the apartment that require inclusion in the technical passport. This:

• changing the location of load-bearing walls and partitions,
• relocation of window and door openings,
• re-equipment of vestibules and dark storage rooms,
• interior arrangement,
• refurbishment of bathrooms,
• division of large rooms,
• expansion of living space due to household premises,
• glazing of a balcony or loggia,
• replacement gas stoves to electrical
• moving a bathroom, kitchen or toilet.

All these types of changes in the apartment are subject to redevelopment and the relevant authorities.

What cannot be demolished: a load-bearing wall

Most often, redevelopment is associated with demolition interior partitions. But not everyone knows which walls can be touched and which ones cannot. Reckless demolition of structures leads to a change in the action of forces on the remaining surfaces and rooms located below. In addition, ceilings left without support may not withstand the load and collapse at any time. Since, in addition to separation different rooms, the wall elements serve as ceiling supports for all similar structural elements located above.

The main (load-bearing) walls in practice are located perpendicular to the floor beams. If it is made from concrete slabs, then their ends rest on the surface of the supporting structure. Usually these are walls between apartments and blocks, or external ones. As a rule, only partitions are equipped inside the apartment.

How to find out which wall is load-bearing?

Is it possible to determine the purpose of the wall yourself? Certainly. By its thickness or the material from which it is built. In panel-type houses indoor units have a thickness of up to 120 mm. Therefore, they can be considered partitions (their thickness ranges from 80-120 mm). The load-bearing surface must have a thickness of at least 140 mm. Most often, in such houses, the external walls are made with a thickness of 200 mm. In brick houses, external, load-bearing structures have a thickness of 380 mm or more, inter-apartment structures - 250 mm, and partitions - 120 or 80 mm.

The material for load-bearing walls in panel houses is most often wall or inter-apartment blocks made of reinforced concrete with various additives to lighten the structure and increase thermal protection. Internal partitions 90% of panel houses are made of gypsum concrete panels. In brick buildings, the main material for all walls is red and sand-lime brick, differing in size. Gypsum concrete panels can also be used as partitions.

Of course, no one is going to demolish the outer walls, but the partitions can be removed by obtaining the appropriate permission. To accurately determine which wall is load-bearing, it is best to use BTI data - a detailed floor plan. There, all main walls are marked with thicker lines, and partitions that do not have such functions are marked with thinner lines.

What is needed for demolition?

In any case, before starting work on demolishing a particular wall and moving it, you need to consult a qualified specialist. As well as a full calculation that takes into account the distribution of loads that must be transferred from old structures to newly erected ones. In addition, you may have to change the power supply circuit. In addition, it must be borne in mind that uncoordinated demolition of the walls of the premises may prevent its sale or the preparation of donation documents, etc. But that’s not all. Such actions are considered illegal and entail fines, summonses to court, and can even lead to confiscation of the apartment.

Therefore, approval of the redevelopment project is necessary in any case. What is needed for this?

1. A plan developed by the BTI service specifically for this type redevelopment.
2. Compilation technical report to demolish the wall.
3. Obtaining a positive conclusion from the housing inspection at the place of registration.