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

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.

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The Comprehensive Guide to Home Renovations