I know next to nothing about roof framing… Client asked about the possibility of removing a portion of a wall that separates the living and dining rooms, and I mentioned that it might be load bearing based on it’s proximitry to the center line of the house. So, up in the attic I go, looking for that flashing neon sigh that says “Load bearing points Here” but alas it was not to be found. What I did see was as follows: Directly under the roof ridge, just above the ceiling, is a double 2×12 beam with plywood spacer. Roof is not trusses. One end of the beam is obviously supported by a wood column, can’t see the other end. About every third roof rafter, there is a 2×4 vertically from said beam to the underside of the ridge. So now there’s little question about which walls are bearing, but can you tell me what the short 2×4’s are for? Distance from the beam to the ridge is less than 4 ft.
Do it right, or do it twice.
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It kinda sounds like that double 2x12 beam is supporting a structural ridge via those 2x4's. What is the ridge made of? Does the wall in question support the double 2x12 beam?
-- J.S.
Didn't look closely at the ridge, but it was just a 2x6 maybe 2x8. Roof is cement tiles, slope is about 6/12. Parts of the wall below do apparently support the beam.
Do it right, or do it twice.
Just curious, While you were up there, how did the insulation look?, by chance were the bath exhaust fan(s) vented properly, any electrical wiring rising up out of those 4 sq. boxes? etc , Watch out for those roofing nails, and your step. Jim J
ELCID,
My framing crew commonly brace non-structural ridges with 2x4 "struts" at either end and a couple in the middle. It helps level the ridge when setting it and also wards off ridge sag later down the line. We normally run these struts to walls, but if there is no wall, we will run them to a beam. It sounds like your situation is similar, and offhand I would advise not to remove anything.
If they went to the trouble to put in a 2x12 beam, I would think it would be to support the ridge. However, the 3' or 4' spacing throws me. I wonder if the cement tiles were added at a later date? Roofs are designed to carry 3 layers of shingles, which will also carry a slate or tile roof. I wonder if the roof was under designed to begin with and when the cement tiles were added the roof was beefed up, however some attention should have been paid to the rafters too.
At any rate, at any points along the ridge, or in this case ridge beam, that you have a post running from the ceiling joist up to the ridge it's to some degree structural or load bearing. If the wall your intending to remove has no structure above it bearing on it, it should not be a structural wall.
I suspect that if you remove the wall the ceiling will not be spported properly.