2 locate the floor joists that run across the.
Identify roof frame and bearing.
Local building practices are also considered to identify load bearing points such as the use of floor or roof trusses conventional framing lumber manufactured members or a combination of these.
Engineered roof truss systems may be designed to eliminate the need for load bearing walls or change where the bearing walls are located.
There may be other load bearing walls that are not so obvious to the layman which is why an on site assessment by a building professional is crucial.
The roof trusses are too long to span the whole house so the load bearing wall runs down the center of the house to support the.
Load bearing walls inside the building typically run parallel to the ridge.
Now look at the same picture below with the roof framing shown.
Look for beams or columns often made out of metal running from one side of the room to the other.
In addition note the position of the ridge or peak of the roof.
Look inside the attic if possible to identify the direction in which the rafters or joists travel.
Go into the basement or the lowest level of a building to identify interior load bearing walls.