Introduction

Before removing walls in your home, it is important to make sure that it is safe to do so. At Resolve Engineering, we are here to help you navigate the process. We specialize in home wall removal inspections in Kansas City and can determine whether the wall you are looking to remove is load bearing or not.

If the wall is determined to be load bearing, we can discuss the feasibility of removing the wall and design a beam that is in compliance with the International Residential Code and ensures that you are safe within your home. Our goal is to give you a complete understanding of your home so you can make informed decisions about how to proceed.

Inspection Process

Initial Client Walkaround:

The goal of the initial client walkaround is to discuss the client objectives and the intended outcome of the wall removal.  This may include opening a wall between the kitchen and living room for an open floor plan, removing a wall in a bathroom to enlarge the bathroom, or various other projects. 

If the client has worked with a contractor already, we can review existing plans developed to ensure that our analysis meets your project requirements and discuss options that may affect cost. The initial walkaround generally takes about 10 to 15 minutes. 

Load-Bearing Wall Determination:

After the initial client walkaround where we get a better understanding of the client’s project, we will determine whether the wall in question is load bearing or can safely be removed without structural modification. 

This generally requires us to look at all levels of the home from the basement to the attic to ensure we are properly diagnosing the wall.  We will look at the roof framing, joist orientation and placement, and any walls or load bearing elements that may be above the wall to provide an accurate assessment of whether the wall is load bearing or non-load bearing.

Field Measurements & Load Calculations:

If the wall is determined to be a load bearing wall, a beam will need to be designed to safely remove the wall. We design our beams to meet the International Residential Code requirements to ensure that you are safe within your home and meet all city and building code requirements.  We provide beam sizes, post sizes, and footing sizes (if applicable) to ensure proper load transfer through your home to your foundation.

We will use the remainder of the inspection to gather field measurements. Field measurements are used to develop the drawings and determine the loads that are applied to the new beam. This field measurement portion of the inspection generally takes about 45 minutes but can vary depending on the complexity and size of the home or project.

Deliverables

If the wall in question is determined to be a load bearing wall and the client would like to remove the wall, we will develop a package that can be given to a contractor and submitted for permitting. This package will include a written letter, a plan drawing, and standard details to ensure the contractor is installing an appropriately sized beam that meets current codes and that can be submitted to the city to meet their permitting requirements.

Written Letter:

The written letter includes information about the property, an overview of the inspection, and a written summary of what Resolve Engineering recommends for beam sizing, post sizing, and footing sizing, if needed.

Plan Drawing:

The plan drawing shows a basic outline of the home and will include beam sizing, post sizing, and footing sizing.  This will visually show the client, contractor, and city where the beam will be located in the home, the dimensions of the beam, and will include notes to ensure that the project is built correctly.  In addition, a demolition plan will be provided to show exactly which wall will be removed.

Standard Details:

In addition to the plan drawing, we will provide standard details that show proper construction techniques to ensure that the project is built correctly.  This includes details that will help ensure proper load transfer, blocking details, beam type details, beam to stud pack details and any other details that may be relevant to your project.

In Summary

At Resolve Engineering, we are committed to the safety and structural integrity of your home and meeting client expectations.  We work hard to provide clear communication to our clients to ensure a smooth project from start to finish.

All wall removal inspections are completed by a licensed Professional Engineer and reviewed by a licensed Professional Engineer, so you can ensure that your wall removal will meet current codes and that proper construction techniques are used during your project.  If you are considering removing a wall within your home, give Resolve Engineering a call at 913-298-3600 or contact us now to discuss your project.