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In addition to the differences between interior
and exterior walls and their makeup, another important factor in
regards to walls is whether or not they are load bearing or non-load
bearing.
As the name implies, load-bearing walls carry the structural weight
of your home. Load-bearing walls in platform-frame homes will have
double top plates. That is, two layers of framing lumber. Note:
all exterior walls are load bearing; interior walls that are aligned
above support beams are also lead bearing.
Non-load-bearing walls support only themselves; they are interior
partition walls. They have a single top plate. While non-load-bearing
walls might run perpendicular to floor and ceiling joists, they
will not be aligned above support beams. Note: all walls that run
parallel to joists are non-load bearing.
While non-load-bearing walls can be altered or even removed completely
without weakening the home’s structure, alterations that can
be made to load-bearing walls are limited. May require the placement
of temporary supports for certain types of remodeling projects.
< Walls
- Interior and Exterior
| Making
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