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[Gaffers]

I have a wall between the kitchen living room which has swing doors fitted.  I hate them.  I want to replace them with pocket doors.  The wall in question is plasterboard with stud and joist but i am not sure whether it is load bearing or not which would put a debbie downer on the idea.  The wall in question does butt up to the u-shaped stairs, in fact they go over part of the wall in to the living room which further makes me suspicious.

Apart from ripping off the plasterboard and having a peek is there anyway i can find out if the wall is load bearing or not?

[redelitev6]

what size stud is it ? unless it's something a really big size I would think it very unlikely to be load bearing

[biggriffin]

If the roof/ floor joist run parallel, then not load, if they run across more than likely load.

Ps I'm not a structural engineer.

[powerslinky]

what size stud is it ? unless it's something a really big size I would think it very unlikely to be load bearing

Timber frame houses do  have load bearing internal walls  . .. made of  . .you've guessed it  . . .wood

When i have worked on these  & it is a long time ago (1980's)  the whole house , doors, windows, roof as well was all put up before the brickies put a single skin of brickwork around it.

Just be aware there could be load bearing timber walls if built to that design.

And along BG I'm not a structural engineer either 

[STEMO]

Be handy if there was a structural engineer.

[Shackeng]

If the roof/ floor joist run parallel, then not load, if they run across more than likely load.

Ps I'm not a structural engineer.

If you can access a light fitting nearby you should be able to check this.

[STEMO]

I really, really, really would pay a structural engineer to tell me definitively, before I demolished messed about with my home.

[Sir Tigger KC]

I really, really, really would pay a structural engineer to tell me definitively, before I demolished messed about with my home.

Oh c'mon, what could possibly go wrong? 

[Gaffers]

If the roof/ floor joist run parallel, then not load, if they run across more than likely load.

Ps I'm not a structural engineer.

If you can access a light fitting nearby you should be able to check this.

Thats a good suggestion 

[Gaffers]

I really, really, really would pay a structural engineer to tell me definitively, before I demolished messed about with my home.

True, and thats what i will probably have to do anyway to satisfy my insurance but i would rather do it in a position of knowledge rather than ignorance.  This is why i like this forum, someone usually knows the answer

[Lazydocker]

Just knock it down

[tigers_gonads]

How old is the property Matt ?

[Gaffers]

How old is the property Matt ?

3 years old which is why i suspect that all or part of the wall is load bearing.

[biggriffin]

It's insured. Just do it

[Marks DTM Calib]

Not seen internal timber load bearing walls for decades.

Do you know what the construction type of the walls around the stairs are as these are often load bearing on two sides and will give you a big pointer as the house construction type.

Its worth popping out light switches and sockets to see what sort of material is used in the construction at various points.

Other easy check is to make small holes above the door to see what is in place (they are easily filled), if its a single timber its not going to be load bearing, if its a sodding great big, steel or concrete lintel (as timber wont support the floor load for a two door span) then it is load bearing.