How to find a load-bearing wall in an apartment and make redevelopment correctly. How can you tell if a wall is load bearing? What is a load-bearing wall in a panel house

Very often we are asked: which wall is load-bearing - and indeed, any redevelopment in the room begins with this question. But why is it so important? The answer is simple - all the walls in the room are divided into two categories of load-bearing walls and partitions. Moreover, if the partitions simply divide the room, then the load-bearing walls carry the load of the plates. Bearing walls or only after drawing up and obtaining permission by certified professionals with SRO approvals for design work. If you make changes to the bearing capacity of the wall, then the whole house can turn out like a card.

If the redevelopment of the apartment still entails a violation of the integrity of the bearing walls, then this should be done only after the development of the redevelopment project by specialists with SRO approval. Walls - partitions, in turn, do not carry any load and can be dismantled at the discretion of the designer without any special permits.

What is the bearing wall in monolithic houses?

Unlike brick houses, the outer walls in monolithic houses are not always load-bearing, and therefore determining which load-bearing wall in monolithic houses is the most difficult. Such houses are the most differentiated in terms of design and architectural solutions; here you can find not only load-bearing walls, but also load-bearing columns, load-bearing beams and pylons, including partitions built into the walls. However, as a rule, load-bearing concrete structures in monolithic houses cannot be less than 200 mm in thickness, often this figure reaches 300 and even 350 mm with finishing. However, this is not the final indicator, so, for example, the thickness of the walls in houses made of foam blocks can reach 300 mm or more.

The most reliable way to determine which wall is load-bearing is to request a plan of your premises from the developer or management company in the archive. Well, in the plan itself, load-bearing walls are always drawn thicker than partitions.

What is the bearing wall in panel houses?

In panel houses, as well as in monolithic ones, there is a peculiarity, usually the load-bearing wall is solid from the basement to the roof, however, the panel house consists of boxes - rooms in which all walls play a supporting role, with the exception of the outer walls, the task of which is to keep warm. However, here you can also find partitions, for example, a toilet and a bathroom, as a rule, consist of partitions.

It is worth noting here that the thickness of partitions in panel houses is quite small, about 80 - 100 mm. The thickness of load-bearing walls in prefabricated houses starts from 120 and reaches 200 mm, so if the thickness of the wall that you measure is more - do not hesitate, it is load-bearing. However, do not forget about the wall decoration, in some cases a rather large layer of plaster can be applied to the wall, in some cases up to 60 mm.

Which
wall
bearing
in Khrushchev?

All "Khrushchev" were built according to the same standard projects in which one important detail can be noted: the scheme consists of three longitudinal load-bearing walls and walls transverse to them. The purpose of these walls is to ensure the stability of the entire structure of the house. Although the transverse walls are not load-bearing, they still carry the load and should be treated carefully. In other words, in order to determine which wall is the carrier in Khrushchev, it is best to request information from the BTI or trust professionals to conduct an examination.

simple tricks
define
which wall is load bearing?

  1. The walls that face the flights of stairs are always load-bearing.
  2. The partition between the bathroom and the toilet is most often not a carrier. As well as the partition between the bathroom or toilet and the corridor.
  3. Load-bearing walls are always the thickest in an apartment. However, this rule does not apply to foam concrete walls. Walls made of foam blocks are not load-bearing.
  4. Interfloor slabs always rest on load-bearing walls, you just have to raise your head and look at the joints of the slabs as they are laid.
  5. Contact the BTI for your area or your building management company and request an architectural plan for your home.

Please contact us for an examination.

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Start at the lowest point in your house. To determine which walls in your house are load-bearing, it is best to start from the place where the main load falls, father-in-law 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 beam system of which rests directly on the foundation. Any walls that are located directly on the foundation should be considered as load-bearing and it is strictly forbidden to demolish them.

View the interior walls of the entire structure. Starting in the basement (or, if you don't have one, the first floor), determine the location internal walls. Track each interior wall through all the floors of your house - in other words, find out exactly where the wall is in relation to the bottom floor, then go upstairs to see if the wall goes through subsequent floors. If there is another wall, a floor with perpendicular beams, or another heavy structure above this wall, then it is probably a load-bearing wall.


Look for 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 exterior 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, solid wood or metal structures crossing the ceiling of the room and extending onto a wall that is known to be load-bearing or external, such as voluminous horizontal protrusions crossing 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, then the former exterior wall can now be the interior. If this is the case, then the innocent-looking inner wall may be the original structure's load-bearing wall. If you have any reason to believe that your home has been seriously altered, the best choice will turn to professionals to be sure that your exterior walls are really exterior walls.

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We are looking for a carrier in a panel house

The most common residential buildings are panel-type houses.
depending on the series of the house, the location of the carriers is different. In any case, there are much more of them than partitions. One of the most simple ways definition is thickness measurement. So, remember that basically its value for partitions in panel houses is 80-100 mm, but the carriers can be 120, 140, 160, 180 and 200. When measuring the thickness, it is worth considering the layer of plaster. It must either be removed at the place where the wall was measured, or subtracted from the result obtained.

In 80% of cases, the partitions of panel houses consist of drywall, and their thickness is 80 mm. Thus, everything that is thinner than 120 we attribute to partitions, but if the measurements are higher than the specified figure, then the walls are load-bearing. Of course, it may happen that the indicator is equal to 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 any redevelopment is allowed.

We are looking for a carrier in a brick house

Now let's talk about the old brick buildings. The walls of such houses have different thicknesses depending on the number of bricks in the masonry. Length standard brick is 120 mm. Seams between brickwork have an index of 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, a brick wall can be sized: 380 mm (three rows of 120 and two seams of 10), 510 mm (four rows of 120 and three seams of 10), 640 mm (five rows of 120 and four seams of 10) .

Now we explain how to recognize the 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). Ordinary partitions between rooms are either 80 or 120. The rest of the walls are load-bearing - they can be 380, 510, 640 and higher.

By the way, there are old houses with wooden floor. Even wooden partitions can be load-bearing. Initially, they did not perform such a function, but subsequently became a support for floors from above.

We are looking for a carrier in a monolithic house


Monolithic houses are distinguished by a huge variety of layouts. Here you can only be sure for sure that there is a partition in front of you. Therefore, you will need to find a project at home if possible, as well as in without fail consult with an engineer from the building company.

Although you can again resort to the method of determining load-bearing walls by measuring the thickness. The value of a monolithic wall can be 200, 250, 300 or more. Having measured it, do not rush to make hasty conclusions. So, if its thickness is less than 200 mm, then this means 99% that you have measured the partition. But if this indicator, 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 partitions.

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What is a load bearing wall?

First, find out what a load-bearing wall is and where it is located. 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 floor 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, then this can lead to bad consequences, starting with a crack that appears on the house and ending with the complete destruction of the structure. Unlike conventional carriers interior walls hold only their own weight, and also perform a separating function. For repairs to be carried out safely and correctly, it is worth contacting specialists for help. Only they know how to determine if a wall is load-bearing or not.

Do not forget about the special permission 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 load-bearing wall or not in a house. Accurate and easy to do is the study of the structural plan of the house. This document is in the Department of Capital Construction. Also, do not forget about the existence of a technical passport. If the landlord 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 defined by thickness and location. When measuring the thickness of the wall, it is first necessary to remove the wallpaper, clean the surface of the old plaster. Only then can measurements begin. The parameters of the load-bearing walls of all houses are different, for example:

  1. The load-bearing walls in a brick house are thirty-eight centimeters thicker. The more bricks laid out, 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 thickness of the load-bearing wall. Therefore, it is easier to take from the developer overall plan floors.

All external walls form the basis of the building, being supporting.

openings

After 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 a 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. It is dangerous to carry out such work on your own, moreover, without special permits and papers with redevelopment made, such an apartment will become a burden.

There are situations when partial demolition of a load-bearing wall is necessary. In this case, an engineer is indispensable. Even a small window or door opening requires appropriate permits and licenses.

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

Bearing walls in a panel house

Most panel houses have a typical design code for the project they were built on. Therefore, before proceeding with 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 house according to the code. Another way is to measure the walls. Thickness self-supporting walls in a panel house it ranges from 80 millimeters to 1 meter, while the thickness of the load-bearing walls is from 140 to 200 mm. The higher the indicator, the more likely 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 brick house?

To find out how to determine the 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 more finishing layers.

Carriers brick walls have a thickness of three hundred and eighty millimeters and above. If self-supporting structures are made of gypsum concrete panels and bricks, then in this case the 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. Finding brick houses by series is more difficult than panel houses, since there are much fewer of them.

Bearing walls in Khrushchev

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

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

If we talk about modern buildings, then studio apartments are very popular. In such rooms, many do without redevelopment, they simply divide the space with furniture. To out ordinary apartment to make a smart home, 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?

Interested in how to determine the load-bearing wall or not in a 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 the bearing walls is 200-300 mm, and the thickness of the columns in monolithic houses is an order of magnitude higher. All walls less than 200 mm thick are considered partition walls.

When it comes to new buildings, the load-bearing structures are easy to determine by simply examining them. They are clearly visible because they are made of reinforced concrete. Also, on the bearing walls, holes sealed with mortar are visible.

What can be done with a load-bearing wall

As 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 it is a load-bearing wall or not, you should find 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 forbidden to transfer it to another place.
  3. It is forbidden to mount wiring and conduct communications in it.

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

How to agree on a redevelopment

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


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

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

Since it is not always possible to determine the option of a 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 of wall covering and its nature entails.

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How to determine the 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 of 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 the house is somewhat more difficult, since other values ​​\u200b\u200bare used during construction.
Walls exceeding a thickness of 20 cm are load-bearing. However, the architectural plan of the project will help to understand more precisely, since the nuances modern construction may include various deviations from standard sizes.

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

2. Location relative to others;

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

3. According to the design of the overlap of the beams

All load-bearing walls are clearly perpendicular to the main structure of the base plates. The upper plates rest on the walls with a shortened side.

What do openings in load-bearing walls say?

Once the load-bearing walls have been determined, the owner is solely responsible for damage, deformation, or pressurization of the elements. The creation of openings and arches in the load-bearing wall entails a lot of negative impacts on the box of the building and negatively affects the entire structure. The occurrence of cracks, shrinkage of the house, destruction of facade elements begins from the impact on the load-bearing wall. Depending on the duration of the existence of the building, the impact on the load-bearing wall can be completely destructive. This is especially true for multi-storey buildings of the old type: Khrushchev, Stalinka, etc.

It is strictly forbidden by the BTI authorities to carry out a complete demolition of the carrier space. If the redevelopment is caused by the need to replace the supporting structure, it is necessary to arrange the space with the help of reliable support columns. The cross section, dimensions and thickness of the columns are calculated by the masters of the authorized bodies. Columns must support and systematically distribute the weight of all elevated floors.

Typical projects of panel buildings

Before determining the load-bearing wall in a panel house , we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the typical projects of panel buildings, which differ 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. The layout of apartments and a detailed plan of load-bearing structures in the drawings are highlighted 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 for the main load-bearing walls and partitions. How to determine the load-bearing wall on the plan? It is necessary to consider in detail the drawing of the apartment 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 the apartment, many people ask about the formation of 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 chasing on the walls of the supporting structure. It is also allowed to drill walls and install internal dowels. Individual design of a house or apartment must be entrusted to professionals who bear full responsibility for the dismantling and formation of load-bearing surfaces.

Design ideas for openings in a load-bearing wall

Complete dismantling of the load-bearing wall is prohibited. However, when forming 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 all of the wall.

Options for placing aquariums between supporting columns:

  • An aquarium in the space between the column and an additional interior partition looks stylish and attractively decorates the apartment.
  • 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 and loggia, window sill systems are often used in the form of aquarium stands. The built-in aquarium looks amazing and captivates the eye with a lively picture.
  • Embedded 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 it will be easier to plan further design with the involvement of craftsmen. The InnovaStroy company carries out repair work turnkey of any level of complexity in apartments, houses and offices. Planning and redevelopment of buildings does not cause difficulties for the masters. In addition, customers are offered innovative developments and improvement of the comfort of living in an apartment. The company's specialists make the client's stay comfortable, and the list of repairs does not cause difficulties. If the question arises, how to determine the load-bearing wall or not, it is necessary to determine the type of building and know its features.

How to determine the load-bearing wall or not in Khrushchev?

  • It must be remembered that all the walls of the building box are load-bearing;
  • The walls facing the stairwells, marching openings are also the main ones;
  • The partition between the balcony, loggia and kitchen (room) carries a small bearing load, so it can be easily dismantled. However, before carrying out the construction demolition of the wall, it is necessary to make sure that the entire space is well-insulated so that the cold stream does not damage other walls of the room.
  • With ease, you can dismantle the interior opening in the bathroom. The thickness of the wall can take 10-12 cm, while it does not carry any main purposes.
  • Panel houses are the most unfavorable to the demolition of walls.
  • Before the start of installation work 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 professional consultants from InnovaStroy. How to determine a load-bearing wall in a brick house? Using the above methods will be easier. Note that the main indicators of a brick structure are easily replaced by support beams, metal or stone. When forming decorated aqua systems, there is a possibility of additional pressure on the structure. It is important to realistically assess the fragility of the structure, and, if necessary, to carry out additional strengthening of individual walls of the building. With care, it is necessary to carry out the installation in an independent way. An error in determining the load capacity of the wall has a 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 contact InnovaStroy for advice.

Studio apartment demolition walls without damage!

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

It must be understood that such redevelopment requires the creation of supporting structures to distribute the bulk of the weight of the upper floors. Many professionals offer clients the application frame technologies and the creation of decorative columns, built-in niches. This option harmoniously delimits the space and does not violate the requirements of higher bodies of technical bureaus.

Recall that the older the structure, the more significant the fragility of the main walls. In buildings of the old type, it is not allowed to carry the main structures. Therefore, without additional supports and a detailed calculation of the weight of the floors, dismantling is prohibited. Masters recommend seeking help from professional architects who will help resolve the issue of redevelopment without additional costs and violations of requirements.

Repair in old-style apartments is always a difficult task that requires the involvement of third parties. We do not recommend that you independently carry out large-scale actions to demolish walls one-time. Remember that turning to professionals, you save not only your own comfort, but also the comfort of your neighbors.

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How do you know if a wall is load bearing?

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

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

Video: Olga Rozina: how to define a wall

If for some reason the plan cannot be found, then the purpose can be understood for some reasons. characteristics. So, for example, if there is a neighboring apartment behind the wall, the entrance or street is 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 the panel, the thickness of the bearing walls is 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.

Gypsum boards can be used for partitions. By measuring the wall, for example, in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe doorway, you can understand whether it is capital or a partition.

However, this method is not suitable for all houses. 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 the panel

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

Interior partitions have a thickness of 8 - 10 mm. There are partitions and 12 cm each, 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, the foundation of which smoothly passes into the wall. In such buildings, any wall with a thickness of more than 20 cm is a load-bearing wall. Such structures are usually made according to individual project, cannot be determined by its size.

It happens that the usual 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 can’t do without a drawing and a plan. If they are not available, you will have to contact specialized companies.

Work carried out on load-bearing walls

When working on solid walls, remember that electrical wiring can be hidden in the wall, if damaged, you can get injured. In older houses, there may be gas pipes in the wall.

You need to work as carefully as possible and with extreme caution, if possible, adhere to the project documentation. Remember that they cannot be demolished completely, 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 finish.

Watch the video: What walls can be demolished in a socket

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Recognize load-bearing walls

Regardless of which house your home is in - panel Khrushchev or a brick nine-story building - it will definitely have load-bearing walls, and just interior partitions. The latter can really be removed without any consequences, in violation of the integrity of the former, it will cause serious troubles that threaten not only your apartment, but even the whole house. But sometimes the conceived project requires that a through opening be made in one specific place, or maybe the wall interferes with it at all?

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

In panel houses

Without finding the technical documentation for the apartment, the load-bearing walls in a panel house are easy to determine by their thickness: the fact is that the main walls supporting the floor panels are always a little thicker. So, 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.

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

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

In Khrushchev

There are several ways to understand which walls in Khrushchev 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 Khrushchev, then here the load-bearing walls usually divide the floor into separate apartments, and the secondary ones already divide each of them into rooms;
  • the same applies to areas separating the premises from the 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 shared bathroom, you can safely demolish the partition - this will not affect the integrity or stability of the building.

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

Which ones can be demolished?

Removing an interfering wall in Khrushchev is somewhat easier than in a panel house. The only partitions that can be safely dismantled in the socket are the wall separating the bathroom and the partition between the room and the kitchen. In Khrushchev's houses, remove (in whole or in part) those of them that do not have an important function.

It is impossible to remove the main walls that hold concrete floors in any case. Their dismantling will certainly weaken the ceiling, the load on the foundation will be significantly reduced. The only acceptable option is partial dismantling with mandatory reinforcement of the opening. And the last thing: all work related to changing the layout of the premises requires obtaining special permits from the relevant authorities. We received the document - get to work!

Do not neglect the mandatory stages of work - measuring the thickness of the partitions, studying the plan of the apartment. And the best thing is not to be too lazy, and visit the BTI, and understand for sure what object you are dealing with. Only in this case, the premises after the repair will not only improve, having received an updated look, but will also remain safe for residents.

Good luck with your projects and safe repairs!

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

How to carry out a safe redesign?

Safe redevelopment of an apartment or house can only be carried out by professionals. Regardless of the scale of the reconstruction, it is necessary to invite specialists from the BTI and Moszhilisnpektsiya, who, after an engineering survey, will issue you 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 that are made to the housing layout in relation to the original BTI plan must be agreed 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 be fined 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 either to legalize the redevelopment, or to return the state of the apartment to its original state.
The thickness of the wall must be measured in its “pure form”, that is, the thickness of the pasted wallpaper and plaster should not be taken into account. Sometimes, in order to make a measurement, you need to drill a through hole in the wall.

If you decide to carry out redevelopment in your apartment related to the unification of premises, you must first understand whether the walls affected are load-bearing. Doorways in load-bearing walls must be coordinated with the supervisory authorities for the redevelopment project with the execution of a technical report from the author of the house project.

The demolition of a load-bearing wall or part of it is strictly prohibited, as it violates the power circuit of the building and threatens with cracks or even collapses due to improper redistribution of loads.

At the same time, the dismantling of non-bearing interior partitions does not threaten the safety of the house and its residents, and therefore can in most cases be agreed with the Moscow Housing Inspectorate according to a simple redevelopment sketch.

Based on the above, we see that without clarifying for yourself whether the wall is load-bearing or not, it is better not to start redevelopment . There, however, this does not stop many owners. So, on various Internet portals for design and repair, there are many examples of redevelopment, where designers "do what they want" with load-bearing walls, not taking into account all the consequences of such repairs.

As a result, the customer receives an illegal redevelopment, the neighbors get cracks in the ceiling, and the inspector who visits a “bad” apartment based on their complaint is a reason to issue an order to return the premises to their original or agreed state.

Below we have tried to provide information with which you will most likely be able to determine which walls are load-bearing and which are not in your apartment, and depending on this, carry out repairs in the future without violating the law and building codes.

Bearing walls in a panel house

Panel model houses different series - the most common type of housing in Moscow. This type of multi-apartment residential buildings, unfortunately, does not allow to implement many planning solutions. The fact is that most of the intra-apartment walls in panel houses are load-bearing, and many circumstances, such as the floor of the apartment, the general construct of this series, or the condition of the house, can interfere with the arrangement of openings in them.

Panel house of the P-3 series, photo:

So, how to understand which walls are load-bearing in a panel house? The easiest way is to measure the thickness of the desired wall.

  • For partitions, this parameter is usually from 80 to 100 mm
  • The thickness of the bearing walls ranges from 140 to 200 mm
  • Interior partitions in 90% of panel houses are gypsum concrete panels 80 mm thick
  • Internal bearing walls are reinforced concrete panels with a thickness of 140, 160, 180 and 200 mm. In some old series of panel houses, there are also 120mm load-bearing walls

Accordingly, this means that if the wall thickness is less than 120mm, then this is a non-load-bearing partition, and if more, then this is a load-bearing wall.

It should be noted that the thickness of the wall must be measured in a "pure form", that is, do not take into account the finishing layers (plaster, wallpaper), and for the purity of the measurements, the plaster layer must either be removed in several places, or pre-measured and subsequently subtracted from the wall thickness.

In "boundary" cases, it is better to rely on the opinion of the engineers of the design institute, the author of the house of your series, where you or your chosen intermediaries, apply for a technical opinion on redevelopment. In any case, it is the TK that will give the final answer on the redevelopment of load-bearing walls.

Example: technical opinion of GUP MNIITEP - an institute that is the author of 90 percent of panel houses in Moscow.

Bearing walls in brick houses

load-bearing walls in monolithic houses

For monolithic houses, the most accurate way to determine the load-bearing wall is to take an architectural floor plan from the management company. Due to the variety of individual design solutions, without appropriate documentation it is quite difficult to determine whether this or that wall is load-bearing. IN monolithic buildings can be found both load-bearing walls and columns, pylons (columns of rectangular section). Monolithic-frame houses may not have load-bearing walls at all.

Non-bearing brick partitions in a monolithic house:

The thickness of the internal walls and pylons in monolithic houses is usually 200, 250 and 300mm, so if the wall affected by the redevelopment is less than 200mm, then this is an ordinary partition. But in some cases, the partition may be more than 200 mm (if it is made of foam blocks).

When deciding on the redevelopment of the room, there are restrictions on the production of some construction work with loaded structures in order to avoid causing irreparable damage to the structure. A structural element of a building that perceives and transmits pressure from floors located above or below is called a load-bearing or under load element. The integrity of the supporting element is critical to the entire facility. Work is carried out with the permission of the supervisory authorities and subject to the approval of the project.

Perform reconstruction as specified housing code, is possible only if there is an approved construction project.

What is a load-bearing wall in a room: purpose

Such a wall is understood as a vertical element of the structure, which provides protection inner space from climatic conditions, provides thermal insulation, sound insulation, transfers the pressure of the overlying floors to the foundation.

How to determine yourself


If available construction documentation, then, with the ability to read it, there are no difficulties, the partitions are highlighted in the project documentation. Information is also available in the technical passport of the owners of privatized premises, if there is building knowledge, this is enough.

In the absence of project documentation, it is still possible to determine whether the wall is loaded, guided by the following tips:

  1. Typically, these are considered external or external structures.
  2. Separating adjacent apartments should also be considered under pressure.
  3. Parts of the room, on which the ends of the floor slabs lie, are considered loaded.
  4. Dividing partitions common to the apartment and flight of stairs.

It is necessary to highlight the moments in the presence of which it is easy to understand whether a part of the building is under pressure for those with different architectural solutions multi-storey buildings.

What walls in panel houses are load-bearing


A series of typical panel houses were built according to standard standard designs for the whole country. The technical passport, held by the owner, provides information regarding the series of the house. Knowledge of the building series and the Internet will make it easy to find schemes on the websites of the customer or developer. Here are the dimensions of all parts of this series of multi-apartment residential buildings. To understand which partitions (except for their own weight) carry the weight of other components of the structure, this information is enough.

If there is no project documentation, as well as information on the Internet, it can be taken as an axiom that walls with a thickness of one hundred and twenty millimeters are loaded. The thickness should be measured without plaster and finish layers. In case of damage or demolition of a part of the premises of an apartment building, the destruction of the structure is possible. Redevelopment in an apartment building without the permission of the architect of the city and municipal authorities is not allowed.

Define in a brick house


In a brick room, all external walls take the weight of the upper floors, as well as partitions between adjacent apartments and dividing an apartment with a flight of stairs.

Walls more than or equal to thirty-eight centimeters thick support floors in a brick apartment building.

External walls brick house are needed for the installation of floors, they experience the load of the floors of the building located on top.

In "Khrushchev" and "Stalinka" the longitudinal walls are intended for mounting floor slabs on them, the transverse ones are partitions.

How to understand where the load-bearing wall is in a monolithic house


The most difficult thing to understand is whether a part of the house is under load, in buildings from monolithic concrete. Various architectural solutions are used here, and not always even external structures made of monolithic concrete perform the functions of loaded ones. In such structures under load there may be columns and pylons.

To avoid errors, in monolithic concrete houses a wall thicker than or equal to two hundred millimeters should be considered under load.

To avoid mistakes, before redevelopment in a monolithic building, you must familiarize yourself with the project documentation. Project documentation can be requested from the management company.

In frame structures having a structure of metal structures, the weight of the overlying floors is perceived and transmitted metal structures, and the walls of the blocks can be thicker than two hundred millimeters.

How to distinguish the walls of the partition from the carrier in your apartment: tips

  1. In brick houses, partitions from three hundred and eighty millimeters thick are considered elements that determine the integrity of the object.
  2. In buildings made of panels, where the walls are one hundred and forty millimeters or more thick, they are loaded elements.
  3. In rooms made of monolithic concrete, two hundred or more millimeters of thickness means the recognition of a pressure-receiving structure.
  4. If the ends of the floor slabs lie on the wall, it belongs to the load-bearing structures.
  5. The partition between adjacent apartments belongs to the loaded part.
  6. Being common to the flight of stairs and the apartment also transmits pressure from above.

To start changing the layout of the apartment, you need to determine which structural parts of the room will undergo deformation or transfer. Then, with the help of specialists, decide whether structures important for the safety of the structure will be affected.


This is most relevant in prefabricated houses, where the demolition of one part of the house can lead to irreversible, sometimes tragic consequences. Prior to the start of the reconstruction, preliminary coordination with the municipal authorities, departments of architecture is required. It should be understood that an unauthorized change in the layout in a multi-storey residential building will lead to consequences in the form of:

  • refusal to register changes;
  • the impossibility to subsequently make any transaction with an apartment subjected to redevelopment, even if elements of a multi-storey building that are critical for the integrity are not affected.

In any case, redevelopment will have to be drawn up in the relevant authorities. In the process of reconstruction, it may be necessary to transfer communications, so it is better to immediately contact the specialists before carrying out construction and installation work. Unauthorized redevelopment with the removal of a structure that transfers the load from top to bottom will be impossible or very difficult.

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