Load-bearing walls in Khrushchev and their demolition. Load-bearing, self-supporting and non-load-bearing walls - what's the difference!? Where is the load-bearing wall located?

Many people are faced with the desire to make some adjustments to existing project apartments. And here the question arises - which walls are load-bearing and which are ordinary partitions.

Let's be clear right away what it is bearing wall? This is the wall on which structural elements located on subsequent floors rest. And what is noteworthy is that load-bearing walls can be replaced with beams and columns, since they perform the same function - supporting the integrity of the entire structure.

If the redevelopment is carried out incorrectly and the load-bearing wall is demolished, this can lead to big problems- starting with cracks in the structure and ending with the collapse of ceilings. In order to competently rebuild your apartment, you need to know in advance which walls can be demolished during redevelopment and which cannot.

Correct, competent and safe redevelopment can only be carried out by professionals - engineers and builders. Regardless of the scale of the reconstruction, be it a small niche in the wall or the demolition of an entire wall.
Therefore, the first thing that is done before planning is to invite specialists from the BTI, who must give you permission for redevelopment, which will already mark all the walls that can be changed or demolished. And only after this can you discuss the intricacies of redevelopment with builders and architects.

In addition, if you obtain all the permits before starting work, there is a chance that this issue will not be left in the dust. After all, apartments with unauthorized redevelopment cannot be sold, and if such a need suddenly arises, it is quite difficult and problematic to legalize a ready-made redevelopment. But if you are interested in knowing about the gradation of walls in an apartment before the official verdict, we will tell you a few simple ways how to do it yourself.

Methods for determining load-bearing walls

So, the first, simplest and most accurate is to find a structural plan of the house, which is stored in the management capital construction, which is located in the city Executive Committee, aka the Executive Committee. There is also a technical passport of the apartment, which all apartment owners have, but you can understand it only if you know how to read construction drawings.

If you were unable to get a plan, then you can try to determine the load-bearing wall by its thickness and location.

Wall thickness

IN brick house- all walls thicker than 38 cm are load-bearing. The thickness of the walls in such houses is determined by the number of bricks laid out in a row. One brick is 12 cm, which means simple arithmetic works: 250 mm is a wall of two bricks + a 10 mm seam between them. 380 mm is a wall of three bricks + 2 joints of 10 mm each. 510 mm is a wall of four bricks + 3 joints of 10 mm each. 640 mm is a wall of five bricks + 4 joints of 10 mm each. and so on. Interior partitions are built from brick or concrete blocks and range in thickness from 12 to 18 cm. The walls between apartments are slightly thicker - 25cm.

All walls thicker than 14 cm are load-bearing in the panel type. Unfortunately, in these types of houses it is very difficult to realize all your ideas, since most of the walls in such houses are load-bearing. Partitions in panel houses much thinner than load-bearing walls - only 8-10cm. There is also a nuance - the thickness of load-bearing walls in panel houses can be 12 cm, it depends on the series of the house. So what should we do? Should such a wall be considered a thickened partition or a load-bearing wall? The final answer will only be given to you by an engineer in the relevant organization that issues an opinion on the terms of reference for your project.

Wall thickness is measured excluding plaster and wallpaper. So it’s better to take measurements after all the walls have been cleaned of the old finish.

In monolithic houses there is a load-bearing wall thicker than 20 cm. The surest way for such houses is to take a floor plan from the developer. Since there is now a huge variety of design solutions, in such houses it can be very difficult to determine the load-bearing wall simply by its thickness. For example, in a monolithic frame house, there may be no load-bearing walls at all. And there are cases when a simple partition is thicker than 20cm. So only an architectural plan can clarify this issue.

By location

The outer walls make up the “building box” and are load-bearing. Load-bearing walls also include walls that face the flight of stairs and interior walls that face the neighboring apartment.

So, when you managed to identify the load-bearing walls in the apartment, and it turned out that it was them that you needed to change, remember: you cannot remove the load-bearing wall completely, leaving upper floors without support. You can remove only a small part of it, and place metal supporting structures in the resulting opening, which can then be easily hidden under false beams. Or when removing an entire wall, you need to provide strong support with studs or columns. The thickness and location of which can only be determined for you by specialists when issuing permission to reconstruct the apartment.

Remember! It is very important not to neglect the opinion of professionals during redevelopment and not to engage in amateur activities, which may be fraught with consequences, not only for your apartment, but also for the apartments around you.

Start from the lowest point in your home. To determine which walls in your house are load-bearing, it is best to start from the place that bears the main load, starting from the foundation. If your home has a basement, start here. If not, try starting from the ground floor where you can locate the lowest concrete slab. Pay attention to the walls, the system of beams of which rests directly on the foundation. Any walls that are located directly on the foundation must be considered load-bearing and demolishing them is strictly prohibited.

View interior walls the entire building. Starting with a basement (or, if you don't have one, the first floor), determine the location of the interior walls. Trace each interior wall through every floor of your home - in other words, pinpoint where the wall is in relation to the floor below, then work your way up to see if the wall extends through subsequent floors. If there is another wall, a floor with perpendicular beams, or other heavy structure above this wall, then it is likely a load-bearing wall.

Search steel beams or pile-beam structures. Sometimes builders use special load-bearing structures, such as steel support beams and pile-and-beam structures, to transfer some of the building's weight to the external walls. In these cases, there is a chance (but not a guarantee) that the nearest internal walls will not be load-bearing. Look for signs of large, sturdy wooden or metal structures that cross the ceiling of a room and extend onto a wall that is known to be load-bearing or external, such as three-dimensional horizontal projections that cross the ceiling.

Look for signs that the house has been remodeled. Many houses, especially old ones, have been changed, expanded and rebuilt several times. If this applies to your home, what was once an exterior wall may now be an interior wall. If this is the case, then the innocent-looking interior wall may turn out to be load-bearing for the original structure. If you have any reason to believe that your home has been seriously altered, best choice will turn to professionals to be sure that your external walls really external walls.

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We are looking for a load-bearing structure in a panel house

The most common residential buildings are panel type houses.
Depending on the series of the house, the location of the load-bearing structures is different. In any case, there are significantly more of them than partitions. One of the easiest ways to determine is to measure the thickness. So, remember that basically its value for partitions in panel houses is 80–100 mm, but load-bearing ones can be 120, 140, 160, 180 and 200. When measuring the thickness, it is worth taking into account the layer of plaster. It must either be removed where the wall was measured, or subtracted from the result obtained.

In 80% of cases, septa panel houses consist of plasterboard and their thickness is 80 mm. Thus, we attribute everything that is thinner than 120 to partitions, but if the measurements are higher than the indicated figure, then the walls are load-bearing. Of course, it may happen that the figure turns out to be 120 mm. Then you should use the services of engineers who developed the layout of the house. One way or another, even if you yourself determine that this wall can be dismantled, you will need a technical opinion from engineers. Only on its basis are any redevelopments allowed.

Looking for a carrier in a brick house

Now let's talk about the old ones brick buildings. The walls of such houses have different thickness depending on the number of bricks in the masonry. Length standard brick is 120 mm. The joints between brickwork are 10 mm. Thus, if it consists of two rows of bricks, then the value will be calculated as follows: 120 + 120 + 10 = 250 mm. According to further calculations, the size of a brick wall can be: 380 mm (three rows of 120 and two joints of 10), 510 mm (four rows of 120 and three joints of 10), 640 mm (five rows of 120 and four joints of 10) .

Now we explain how to recognize a load-bearing wall in a brick house. And everything is extremely simple: again, by measuring. The walls in such houses separating the apartments are partitions and have a thickness of 250 mm (double masonry). The usual partitions between rooms are either 80 or 120. The remaining walls are load-bearing - they can be 380, 510, 640 and higher.

By the way, there are old houses with wooden floor. They can even be carriers wooden partitions. Initially they did not perform such a function, but later became a support for the floors above.

We are looking for a load-bearing structure in a monolithic house

Monolithic houses have a huge variety of layouts. Here you can only be sure that there is a partition in front of you. Therefore, you will need to find a house design if possible, as well as mandatory consult with an engineer from the developer company.

Although you can again resort to the method of determining load-bearing walls by measuring the thickness. The size of a monolithic wall can be 200, 250, 300 and higher. Having measured it, do not rush to make hasty conclusions. So, if its thickness is less than 200 mm, then this means by 99% that you have measured the partition. But if this figure, for example, is 200 mm, then this does not always confirm the opposite. The fact is that monolithic houses involve the use of foam blocks, which are a special type of partition.

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What is a load-bearing wall?

First, find out what a load-bearing wall is and where it is located. Load-bearing walls perform an important task - they maintain the integrity of the entire structure. Columns and beams sometimes act as load-bearing elements, but this does not change their purpose. Since all elements of the roof and ceiling structure rest on the wall, it is important to know during redevelopment how to determine the load-bearing wall in the house.

If you demolish it, it can lead to bad consequences, starting with cracks appearing on the house and ending with complete destruction of the structure. Unlike load-bearing walls, ordinary interior walls support only their own weight and also perform a separating function. To ensure that repair work is carried out safely and correctly, you should contact specialists for help. Only they know how to determine whether a wall is load-bearing or not.

Do not forget about the special permit for redevelopment, which is issued by specialists from the technical inventory bureau. It will indicate which walls can be destroyed and modified, and which are prohibited.

Methods for determining load-bearing walls

There are several ways to determine whether a house has a load-bearing wall or not. Accurate and easy to do is to study the structural plan of a house. This document is in the capital construction department. Also, do not forget about the existence of a technical passport. If the apartment owner knows how to read construction drawings, it will not be difficult for him to determine the load-bearing wall in the house.

Load-bearing walls are often determined by their thickness and location. When measuring the thickness of the wall, you must first remove the wallpaper and clean the surface of the old plaster. Only after this can measurements begin. The parameters of load-bearing walls are different for all houses, for example:

1. The load-bearing walls in a brick house are thirty-eight centimeters thick. The more bricks laid, the greater the thickness.
2. In panel houses the situation is slightly different. Here, all walls exceeding fourteen centimeters are load-bearing. In such a house, redevelopment is difficult and almost impossible. After all, most of the walls in a panel house are load-bearing.
3. In monolithic houses, walls thicker than twenty centimeters are load-bearing. In houses, it is quite difficult to determine the load-bearing wall thickness. Therefore, it’s easier to take it from the developer overall plan floors.

All external walls form the basis of the building, serving as support walls.

Openings

Once the load-bearing walls in the apartment are determined, certain restrictions associated with redevelopment will appear. It is impossible to completely demolish a load-bearing wall. It is better to make an opening or niche in it - this is a safer option. The number of openings in load-bearing walls is limited.

If it is necessary to make an opening in such a design, it is better to seek help from professionals. Carrying out such work on your own is dangerous, and without special permits and papers with the redevelopment done, such an apartment will become a burden.

There are situations when partial demolition of a load-bearing wall is necessary. In this case, you cannot do without an engineer. Even a small window or door opening requires appropriate permits and licenses.

Only true professionals in their field will be able to not only make an opening in a load-bearing wall, but also increase its strength. This will help avoid its destruction. A metal or reinforced concrete lintel is used to support the wall.

Load-bearing walls in a panel house

Most panel houses have a standard code for the project according to which they were built. Therefore, before you begin redevelopment, you need to know how to determine the load-bearing wall in a panel house.

To find load-bearing walls in a panel house, you can use the database of these structures. It makes it possible to see the layout of apartments from each series and choose your home using the code. Another way is to measure the walls. The thickness of self-supporting walls in a panel house ranges from 80 millimeters to 1 meter, while the thickness of load-bearing walls ranges from 140 to 200 mm. The higher the indicator, the greater the likelihood that it is a load-bearing wall. It is important to remember that demolishing it in a panel house will lead to the destruction of the building.

How to find out if a load-bearing wall in a house is made of brick?

To find out how to determine a load-bearing wall in a brick house, you need to add the thickness of the vertical mortar joint to the size of the brick. That is, the thickness depends on how many bricks are supplied. Brick walls can be 120, 250, 380 mm thick, and so on, plus finishing layers.

Bearers brick walls have a thickness of three hundred eighty millimeters or more. If self-supporting structures are made of gypsum concrete panels and bricks, then in this case interior partitions will be 250 mm. Thus, load-bearing walls in brick houses have a thickness of 380 mm. If during measurements the thickness is less than 380 mm, then such a wall is an ordinary partition. Find brick houses series is more difficult than panel ones, since there are much fewer of them.

Load-bearing walls in Khrushchev

All Khrushchev buildings were built according to the same type. They have three load-bearing walls and additional transverse ones, which serve as support for the load-bearing ones and prevent them from tipping over. This list also includes the transverse walls of the staircase. They support not only load-bearing structures, but also flights of stairs, thus also becoming load-bearing.

How to determine a load-bearing wall in brick apartment? Can it be dismantled or not? The slabs that are located between floors are supported by load-bearing or transverse reinforced concrete walls and beams.

If speak about modern buildings, then studio apartments are very popular. In such rooms, many manage without redevelopment, simply dividing the space with furniture. To from ordinary apartment to make smart housing, you need to completely or partially dismantle the walls, leaving only the box. However, such global changes will negatively affect the integrity of the building, especially if it is old.

How to find a load-bearing wall in a monolithic house?

Are you wondering how to determine if a wall is load-bearing or not? monolithic house? These buildings have a variety of architectural and design features. They combine conventional load-bearing walls, columns, beams and rectangular columns. The thickness of load-bearing walls is 200-300 mm, and the thickness of columns in monolithic houses is an order of magnitude higher. All walls having a thickness of less than 200 mm are considered partitions.

When it comes to new buildings, the load-bearing structures are easy to determine simply by inspecting them. They are clearly visible because they are made of reinforced concrete. Holes sealed with mortar can also be seen on the load-bearing walls.

What can you do with a load-bearing wall?

As is already known, the structure is the basis of the building and holds the main load; it must be handled carefully and carefully. Before determining whether a wall is load-bearing or not, it is worth finding out what actions are prohibited in relation to it:

1. It cannot be completely demolished, as this will affect the stability of the entire structure.
2. It is prohibited to move it to another place.
3. It is prohibited to install wiring or conduct communications in it.

Despite these prohibitions, a load-bearing wall is not untouchable; you can make a doorway in it, create an arch or partition between rooms, or drill through it.

How to coordinate redevelopment

Before carrying out redevelopment, it is necessary to obtain permission from the relevant authorities. Since residents do not always correctly determine the type of wall covering or dismantle the load-bearing wall, these approvals are mandatory. Therefore, the question of how to determine a load-bearing wall according to the building plan can play a bad joke with residents.

Do not neglect the rules, otherwise the construction will become illegal and the owner will be fined. It follows from this that it is better to spend time on official authorities and obtain all permissions than to suffer from mistakes made.

If you are deciding whether to redevelop a room or not, you should remember that even a harmless error in calculations when performing this work can provoke serious problems. By doing this, you risk your life and the lives of other household members.

Since it is not always possible to determine the type of load-bearing wall, it is better to use the services of a specialist. Nevertheless, having decided to do the work yourself and knowing how to determine where the load-bearing walls are, be extremely careful and vigilant, because you already know what a possible deviation in calculations or reasoning regarding the type entails wall covering and his character.

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How to determine a load-bearing wall in a brick house?

Brick size – 12 cm;

• 250 mm walls: 2 bricks + joint (10 mm);
• 350 mm walls: 3 bricks + 2 seams;
• 510 mm walls: 4 bricks + 3 seams;
• 640 mm walls: 5 bricks + 4 seams;

Interior partitions built from blocks or bricks are only 12-18 mm. The walls between neighboring apartments are not much thicker - 25 mm.

In a monolithic type building, determining the load-bearing wall in a house is somewhat more difficult, since different values ​​are used during construction.
Walls exceeding a thickness of 20 cm are load-bearing. However, the architectural plan of the project will help you understand more precisely, since the nuances modern construction may include various options deviations from standard sizes.

Owners of city apartments often have a question: how to determine the load-bearing wall in a panel house? Only an experienced architectural engineer can answer the question. In a panel-type house, all walls thicker than 12-14 cm are considered load-bearing. Carrying out redevelopment in a panel-type apartment is often much more difficult. The partitions are usually up to 10 cm.

2.Location relative to others;

All external walls are always load-bearing. In addition, the external walls of the building make up its box and border on the façade side of the building. The external walls of the apartment facing the staircase or neighboring dwellings are also considered the main ones.

3.According to the design of the beam overlap

All load-bearing walls are clearly perpendicular to the main structure of the support slabs. The top slabs rest on the walls with their shortened side.

What do openings in load-bearing walls indicate?

Once load-bearing walls have been determined, the owner bears full responsibility for damage, deformation or creation of pressure on elements. Creating openings and arches in a load-bearing wall entails a lot negative impacts on the building box and negatively affects the entire structure. The appearance of cracks, shrinkage of the house, destruction façade elements begins from the impact on the load-bearing wall. Depending on the duration of the building’s existence, the impact on the load-bearing wall can be completely destructive. This especially applies to multi-storey buildings old type: Khrushchev, Stalin, etc.

It is strictly prohibited for the BTI authorities to carry out complete demolition of the load-bearing space. If the redevelopment is caused by the need to replace the supporting structure, it is necessary to design the space using reliable support columns. The cross-section, dimensions and thickness of the columns are calculated by craftsmen authorized bodies. The columns must support and systematically distribute the weight of all rising floors.

Typical designs of panel buildings

Before defining a load-bearing wall in a panel house , We recommend that you read standard projects panel buildings, which vary in code. First, you need to determine the series of the structure, and then familiarize yourself with the detailed version of the drawing and its features. Apartment layout and detailed plan load-bearing structures highlighted in drawings using color.

Panel house project code:

• 90-05;
• 90-06;
• 90-07;
• 90-022;
• 90-023;
• 90-031;
• 90-045;

The description of each project code includes the presence of designations of the main load-bearing walls and partitions. How to determine a load-bearing wall on a plan? It is necessary to examine the drawing of the apartment in detail and indicate the thickness of the walls. On paper, load-bearing walls are indicated by denser, solid lines.

Opening or niche in a load-bearing wall?

After determining the load-bearing wall in an apartment, many ask the question of creating an opening or an additional niche in the load-bearing wall. Creating a built-in opening in many apartments in panel houses is acceptable. Compliance with the requirements of regulatory authorities is strictly mandatory. It is allowed to perform horizontal and vertical grooves on the walls of the load-bearing structure. Drilling into walls and installing internal dowels is also allowed. Individual design houses or apartments must be entrusted to professionals who bear full responsibility for dismantling and forming load-bearing surfaces.

Ideas for designing openings in a load-bearing wall

It is prohibited to completely dismantle a load-bearing wall. However, when creating openings, there are options for decorative filling of load-bearing structures. One of the stylish proposals of designers is the formation of an aquarium system on part or the entire wall.

Options for placing aquariums between load-bearing columns:

• The aquarium in the space between the column and the additional interior partition looks stylish and decorates the apartment attractively.
• The addition of furniture with an emphasis on the aquarium system fits harmoniously into the design.
• When expanding an apartment due to the space of a balcony or loggia, window sill systems in the form of aquarium stands are often used. The built-in aquarium looks amazing and captivates the eye with a living picture.
• Built-in aqua systems in niches of load-bearing walls look great in bedrooms and living rooms.

Knowing all the rules, it is easy to determine which wall is load-bearing and planning further design will be easier with the involvement of craftsmen. The InnovaStroy company carries out repair work turnkey projects of any level of complexity in apartments, houses and offices. Planning and redevelopment of buildings does not cause difficulties for craftsmen. In addition, clients are offered innovative developments and improved comfort of living in an apartment. The company’s specialists make the client’s stay comfortable, and the list of repair work does not cause difficulties. If the question arises of how to determine whether a load-bearing wall is or not, it is necessary to determine the type of structure and know its features.

How to determine whether a load-bearing wall is in a Khrushchev building?

• It must be remembered that all the walls of the building box are load-bearing;
• Walls facing staircases, marching openings are also the main ones;
• The partition between the balcony, loggia and kitchen (room) carries a small supporting load, so it can be easily dismantled. However, before carrying out construction demolition of the wall, it is necessary to ensure high-quality insulation the entire space so that the cold flow does not cause damage to other walls of the room.
• You can easily dismantle the interior opening in the bathroom. The thickness of the wall can be 10-12 cm, but does not serve any main purpose.
• Panel houses are the most unfavorable for the demolition of walls.
• Before starting to dismantle any walls, it is important to understand that a supporting structure is required.

To answer the question of how to determine a load-bearing wall in an apartment and how many main walls can be located in a building, we recommend contacting the professional consultants of the InnovaStroy company. How to determine a load-bearing wall in a brick house? Using the above methods it will be easier. Note that the main indicators of a brick structure are easily replaced support beams, metal or stone type. When forming decorated aqua systems, there is a possibility additional pressure on the design. It is important to realistically assess the fragility of the structure and, if necessary, carry out additional strengthening separate walls building. Installation must be done with caution in an independent way. An error in determining the load capacity of a wall has negative impact on the condition of neighboring apartments and the entire floor. If you are in doubt about how to determine the load-bearing wall on the plan, we recommend that you seek advice from the InnovaStroy company.

Studio apartment we demolish walls without damage!

In modern designs they are extremely popular small apartments open spaces called studios. This layout is convenient for a family of 2-3 people. Many people want to remodel large apartments in the studio, dividing the interior space with furniture. This option requires complete or partial demolition of the walls, leaving only the box of the apartment.

It is necessary to understand that such redevelopment requires the creation of supporting structures to distribute the main weight of the upper floors. Many professionals offer clients the use frame technologies and the creation of decorative columns and built-in niches. This option harmoniously delimits the space and does not violate the requirements of higher authorities of technical bureaus.

Let us remember that the older the structure, the more significant the fragility of the main walls. In old-type buildings, the main structures are not allowed. Therefore, dismantling is prohibited without additional supports and a detailed calculation of the weight of the floors. Experts recommend contacting for help professional architects, which will help resolve the issue of redevelopment without additional costs and violations of requirements.

Renovating old-style apartments is always a difficult task, requiring the involvement of third parties. We do not recommend carrying out large-scale wall demolition activities on your own at one time. Remember that by turning to professionals, you preserve not only your own comfort, but also the comfort of your neighbors.

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How to find out if a wall is load-bearing

The easiest way is to look at the house project. All the walls are clearly marked there. The plan must be kept in the city administration, in the capital construction department.

In addition, you can also use the apartment plan, which is located in those. passport or house register. However, to do this you need to be able to read blueprints or have experience in construction.

Video: Olga Rozina: how to identify a wall

If for some reason the plan cannot be found, then the purpose can be understood by some characteristic features. So, for example, if behind the wall there is a neighbor’s apartment, an entrance or a street, these are load-bearing.

Another way to find out is by thickness. If you live in a brick house and the thickness of the partition is 38 cm, then it is load-bearing. IN panel thickness load-bearing walls are 14 cm or more.

In a brick house

In brick houses, the thickness of the exterior starts from 38 cm, between apartments from 25 cm, interior - 8 - 12 cm. The main material in the construction of such houses is silicate and red brick.

For partitions, gypsum slabs can be used. By measuring a wall, for example, in the area of ​​a doorway, you can determine whether it is solid or a partition.

However, this method is not suitable for all homes. For example, in the 90s, houses were built according to individual projects, so if there is no plan, then only the author of the project can determine.

In panel

Since the panel house consists almost entirely of load-bearing structures, it will be very difficult to implement the planned redevelopment. Load-bearing walls include inter-apartment, external and adjacent to external walls. In addition, the walls of bathrooms can also be load-bearing.

Interior partitions have a thickness of 8 - 10 mm. There are partitions of 12 cm, but this is a rare exception. To determine the purpose of the walls in this case, it is better to contact specialists who will draw a conclusion only after studying design features buildings and decide whether redevelopment can be done.

In monolithic houses

A monolithic house is a building whose foundation smoothly merges into the wall. In such buildings, any wall whose thickness is more than 20 cm is load-bearing. Such buildings are usually made according to individual project, it is impossible to determine using its size.

It happens that an ordinary interior partition in monolithic buildings has a thickness of more than 20 cm. There are monolithic houses in which load-bearing walls are completely absent. They are replaced by reinforced concrete columns.

And in this case, you cannot do without a drawing and plan. If they are missing, you will have to contact specialized companies.

Work carried out on load-bearing walls

When carrying out work on solid walls, remember that electrical wiring may be hidden in the wall, which, if damaged, can cause injury. Older houses may have gas pipes in the walls.

You need to work as carefully as possible and with extreme caution; if possible, adhere to project documentation. Remember that they cannot be completely demolished, as the floors will remain without support.

If partial removal is required, then supports must be installed in the opening, which can then be hidden under the finishing.

Watch the video: Which walls can be demolished in a panel

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Let's recognize load-bearing walls

Regardless of what kind of house your home is located in - a panel Khrushchev building or a nine-story brick building - it will definitely have load-bearing walls and simply interior partitions. The latter can actually be removed without any consequences, while violating the integrity of the former will lead to serious troubles that threaten not only your apartment, but even the entire house. But sometimes the planned project requires that a through opening be made in one specific place, or maybe the wall is completely in the way?

In any case, you should not resort to dismantling without familiarizing yourself with the floor plan. If you don’t have one at hand, contact the technical inventory bureau or try to determine the load-bearing walls yourself.

In panel houses

Not finding technical documentation for an apartment, load-bearing walls in a panel house can be easily determined by their thickness: the fact is that the main walls supporting the floor panels are always a little thicker. Thus, the minimum thickness of a load-bearing wall in a standard panel house is 12 cm, not taking into account the layer of plaster, finishing materials, and additional partitions are 2 cm thinner.

Typically, internal walls do not affect the stability of the entire house, but only serve to divide the single space of the apartment into rooms. It is allowed to begin alteration and demolition work only after all walls have been carefully measured and key structures have been identified.

And one more thing: nine-story panel houses in most cases they consist of main walls - such a structure is very reminiscent of a classic house of cards. When planning an apartment renovation in such a house, it is better to familiarize yourself with the detailed plan before starting work.

In Khrushchevka

There are several ways to understand which walls in a Khrushchev building are load-bearing:

• the first, most correct one is to study the technical documentation;
• the second method suggests paying attention to the purpose of the wall - if you have a Khrushchev building, then load-bearing walls usually divide the floor into separate apartments, and secondary walls already divide each of them into rooms;
• the same applies to areas separating the premises from flight of stairs or common corridors - they are always the main ones;
• but the wall between the room and the balcony, unlike brick houses, on the contrary, does not carry an important load, but retains heat;
• in a divided bathroom, you can safely demolish the partition - this will not affect the integrity or stability of the building in any way.

There is another way to determine which walls are load-bearing - this is by drilling: the thickness of the main partitions is such that one drill is not enough for a through hole.

Which ones can be demolished?

It is somewhat easier to remove an interfering wall in a Khrushchev-era building than in a panel house. The only partitions that can be safely removed from the panel are the wall separating the bathroom and the partition between the room and the kitchen. In Khrushchev's houses, remove (in whole or in parts) those that do not have an important function.

Remove the main walls that hold concrete floors under no circumstances is it possible. Dismantling them will certainly weaken the ceiling, significantly reducing the load on the foundation. The only one valid option– partial dismantling with mandatory strengthening of the opening. And lastly: all work related to changing the layout of the premises requires obtaining special permits from the relevant authorities. Once you have received the document, get to work!

Don't neglect mandatory stages works - measuring the thickness of partitions, studying the apartment plan. And the best thing is not to be lazy, and visit the BTI, and understand for sure what kind of object you are dealing with. Only in this case, after renovation, the room will not only improve, receiving an updated look, but will also remain safe for residents.

Good luck with your projects and safe repairs!

The walls of houses and apartments perform different functions and experience different loads. Load-bearing walls take on the load not only of their own weight, but also the weight of the ceiling. Having conceived major renovation related to redevelopment, you just need to know how to determine a load-bearing wall.

The load-bearing wall is installed perpendicular to the slab that rests on it. That is, the slab lies with its short side on the wall, giving it a significant part of its mass. Load-bearing walls are not always used in buildings. Sometimes columns or beams are installed instead. But basically, load-bearing walls are installed in residential premises during construction, which are easy to determine in some cases, but difficult in others.

We note in advance that operations carried out with load-bearing walls, including internal installation wiring, arrangement of niches and various openings should not be carried out independently without professional skills. About arches, doorways, extended sections or partial demolition are out of the question.

How to determine which wall is load-bearing

Most easy way find a load-bearing wall - get acquainted with the house plan. On it this wall is marked quite clearly. The plan can be found in the local executive committee in the department of capital construction management. You can also use detailed plan apartment, located in the house register or registration certificate. But in this case, the owner must have some construction experience and blueprint reading skills.

You can look at such a plan together with your neighbors living on the floor above. Their design should indicate which wall their floor structure rests on. If the apartment is on the top floor, you can climb into the attic and pay attention to how the slabs are laid.

Note! If there is even the slightest bit of uncertainty, do not touch the wall under any circumstances, as this can be very expensive.

If it is impossible to obtain a plan, we will determine the load-bearing wall based on its characteristic features. The location of a wall can say a lot about its purpose. The walls facing the staircase hall, as well as the internal walls bordering the neighbors' apartment, are load-bearing. In addition, some external walls bordering environment, can also be load-bearing. They can form the box of a building and take on the entire load.

The next way to determine such a wall is to pay attention to its thickness. If thickness brickwork is 38 centimeters or more, and if the reinforced concrete panel is more than 14 cm thick, then these walls are load-bearing. Now about this in more detail.

Brick houses

The width of the brick is 12 cm. The cement joint between the bricks takes up an average of 1 cm. Simple mathematics tells us that 38 cm is a masonry of three bricks, in which there are two joints (12+1+12+1+12=38). 51 cm – 4-brick masonry; 64 cm - 5-brick, etc. Interior walls are usually no thicker than 18 cm. The thickness of the walls is determined without taking into account plaster. Therefore, before measuring, it is better to clean the walls of the old finish.

In brick houses built in the 90s and later, the situation is a little more complicated. They were most likely built according to an individual project, and the author of the plan will help determine the load-bearing wall.

Panel houses

In panel or block house It is very difficult to realize your construction ideas, since most of the walls in it are load-bearing. These include inter-apartment, and external and perpendicular to external walls. The walls of the plumbing rooms are also load-bearing.

The partitions between rooms are only 80–100 mm. But there are exceptional cases when in such houses the wall thickness is 12 centimeters wide. Should it be considered load-bearing, or is it just a thickened partition? In this case, you need to turn to competent people for help, who will make a conclusion based on architectural project building. They will decide whether it is possible to carry out further work in the house or not.

Monolithic houses

How to recognize a load-bearing wall in a monolithic house? In houses whose foundation smoothly merges into the frame of the building, any wall more than 20 cm thick is considered load-bearing. However, in such houses, which are often built not according to the standard, but according to the customer’s design decision, to determine the load-bearing wall, it is not enough to be guided by dimensions alone. A simple partition in a monolithic house can be thicker than 20 cm. And there are houses where there are no load-bearing walls at all. Instead, reliable columns are used. Therefore, a building plan and drawing can be helpful. If for some reason they are not available, then a verdict from authorized persons cannot be avoided.

Permission from relevant authorities.

Many people don't want to get involved with officials and prefer to resolve such important issues on their own. But this is fraught with serious mistakes. Don’t be afraid to call specialists into your home for consultation and obtain permission. Moreover, if you find the slightest cracks, a damp or crumbled area on a wall, even if it is not load-bearing, invite an inspector who will assess the extent of the damage and give advice.

Note! Any redevelopment, regardless of the type of apartment, be it a Khrushchev-era building or a cottage house, requires the consent and written permission of the BTI or other relevant public services. Work on load-bearing walls, even if performed by a professional, also requires a permit.

If you still have to carry out some dismantling work on load-bearing walls, it should be carried out by a competent specialist who knows how to install temporary columns that take on the weight of the slab instead of the wall. Representatives of authorized organizations and engineers licensed for this construction activity must monitor the process and carry out calculations of such columns.

Note! It is impossible to sell an apartment with an illegal redevelopment, and getting a project for an already remodeled apartment will be very difficult and problematic.

There is no need to think that the planned work is insignificant and is not worth calling a team. The slightest mistake can cost the lives of many people, because an unnoticeable microcrack in a load-bearing wall can eventually lead to the collapse of the building.

Work carried out on load-bearing walls

If you decide to carry out work on load-bearing walls, for example, to dig ditches, do it with the utmost caution. If there are sockets or switches on the wall, remember that wiring is hidden inside the wall, which, if the room is not de-energized, can damage the electrical system and cause injury to a worker. If the house is old, there may even be a gas pipe in the wall. Work carefully and, if possible, use a project where all these nuances are noted.

Note! Never forget that you cannot demolish a load-bearing wall, leaving the floor without support.

If your professional skills allow you to undertake partial removal of the wall, do not forget to place a support in the resulting opening, which can be hidden over time with false beams.

Video

Find more tips below:

Many apartment owners in panel houses dream of redevelopment to expand the space and more rational use residential area. But not everyone knows what actions can or cannot be performed during such a procedure. For example, it is prohibited to demolish load-bearing walls in panel houses (and not only in them). The main issues relating to the redevelopment of an apartment in such a building will be discussed further.

Defining Changes

Redevelopment is a change in the configuration of a room. The Housing Code of the Russian Federation stipulates that any changes to the apartment must be reflected in the technical passport and approved government agencies. Redevelopment is considered to be: moving window and door openings, changing walls (supporting and partitions), dividing space, moving the kitchen and bathroom.

Typically, apartment owners limit themselves to removing interior partitions to expand the living area.

Important: This procedure must be clearly planned in order to maintain the supporting structures in an unchanged condition. If you make a mistake and remove the load-bearing plane, the apartments located below may suffer: without support, the ceilings may collapse.

The concept of a “load-bearing wall”

From an architectural point of view, the planes in the building are divided into 2 types:

1. Load-bearing walls (NS). These vertical structures made in such a way that they can withstand significant weight. The reliability of the entire building depends on the quality of such a wall.
2. Partitions. They serve to divide the room into zones. They are not subject to significant loads, but they must withstand some weight.

The homeowner has the right to change or demolish only partitions; any impact on the supporting structure is prohibited. If the owner decides to make changes to the Tax Code, he must obtain permission from the relevant institutions. Such paper is provided only after detailed calculations have been made and with reservations. After an unplanned opening has been made in the plane, it must be strengthened so that these supports are replaced and are not inferior in strength to the removed element.

Advice: If the owner arbitrarily made changes to the load-bearing block, considering contacting the housing inspection unnecessary and unimportant, he may encounter a number of problems when selling, privatizing, donating or exchanging housing.

Housing inspection specialists will apply penalties to such a citizen and require him to return the original structure at his own expense. In rare situations, such redevelopment can be legalized, but payment of a fine is required in any case.

Read also: How to obtain guardianship permission to sell an apartment to minors

The main method for determining NS

The main and unmistakable way to determine which walls are load-bearing in a panel house is to study the technical passport or building design. To do this, you need to contact the executive committee, where the Capital Construction Department is located. As a rule, you do not even need to write an application - the interested person will be provided with a constructive plan, from which they can make a copy for more detailed study. The registration certificate for the apartment also indicates the location of load-bearing walls and partitions.

Determination by location of vertical structure

NS are usually located at right angles to the floor beams. If the floor is made of concrete slabs, then their ends should lie on the supporting structure. Basically, these are external, inter-apartment and inter-block walls.

The base of the room (its box) is surrounded by supporting planes. These include:

1. External walls facing the street (yard). Some people mistakenly believe that the walls in the yard are not supporting - this is a big misconception.
2. Structures that enclose the apartment from the staircase and elevator space.
3. Walls between neighboring apartments. But we cannot confidently assume that the interior planes are partitions. In some panel houses with 5 floors, load-bearing walls are even located between rooms.

Partitions cannot serve as an accurate guide. A person who is not a specialist in this field will not be able to accurately determine the NS without dismantling the coating.

Orientation to the thickness of the vertical plane

This method is the most reliable besides studying technical documentation. But, after taking measurements, you need to determine their value. In a brick house, if the thickness of the structure is 38 cm, this means that it is supporting. In this case, you don’t even need a tape measure: 3 bricks (add seams) serve as a guide. The partitions are made 1-2 bricks thick.

A load-bearing wall is a wall on which elements located on upper floors multi-apartment residential building. It takes on the load of beams, slabs, ordinary partitions and balconies, maintaining the integrity of the entire structure from the roof to the foundation.
If the redevelopment is carried out incorrectly, or the load-bearing wall is demolished or damaged, this will be fraught with big problems - from cracks in the structure to its collapse.
AiF.ru tells how to determine that a wall is load-bearing.
There are several ways to find out specifications walls:

How to carry out a safe redevelopment?

Only professionals can carry out safe redevelopment of an apartment or house. Regardless of the scale of the reconstruction, it is necessary to invite specialists from the BTI and the Moscow Housing Inspectorate, who, after an engineering examination, will issue you with an official permit for redevelopment, indicating all the walls that can or cannot be demolished.

What punishment awaits a person for unauthorized redevelopment?

Any changes made to the housing layout relative to the original BTI plan must be agreed upon with the Moscow Housing Inspectorate. This is required by the housing legislation of the Russian Federation and Moscow.
In the absence of permits, redevelopment is considered unauthorized, and therefore illegal. In this case, according to Art. 7.21 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, you will face a fine for illegal redevelopment in the amount of 2 to 2.5 thousand rubles. For legal entities it is much larger - from 350 thousand to 1 million rubles.
In addition to a fine, for illegal redevelopment of an apartment, the violator is issued an order, according to which the violator will be obliged to either legalize the redevelopment or return the apartment to its original condition.
Wall thickness must be measured in " pure form", that is, do not take into account the thickness of the pasted wallpaper and plaster. Sometimes, in order to take a measurement, it is necessary to drill a through hole in the wall.