Load bearing walls corner removal for kitchen open concept

9 years ago

We're planning kitchen remodeling. I'm looking for structural advise about walls removal for making open concept kitchen.
The attached floorplan shows the walls to be removed (hatched) and the walls of the second floor (in red).

Our kitchen is a U shape open to a Family Rm at South direction. On the North side is a Dining room with a connecting door to the kitchen. The dining room is open to a living room on its East side. The living room is on the NE side of the kitchen.
A double door on the East side connects to an entrance and stairs to the second floor.

I'd like to remove all of the East wall and 2.5ft from the North wall. This will make 27ft North-Shouth openning (11ft are original).
Those walls has to somehow support the second floor. We have Master Bdrm (and Master suite) over the Kitchen and Dining Rm. The Master Bdrm has about 4ft overhang to the North beyond first floor exterior wall and a 4ft cantilever porch beyond that. There is a post 4ft away from the North wall, supporting a 8.5" x 5.5" beam.

I suspect both walls to be removed are load bearing walls.
What it would take to remove those walls?
What kind of beam(s) would be needed to support the second floor?
Could the second floor be supported without any column at the opening?

I'd appreciate any advice I could get about the structural support needed.

Featured Answer

jackfre

9 years ago

You need a structural engineer to design this. I just did this in my home. We love the result. Now no matter how hard she tries she cannot get away from me. In looking at it you will have to put a beam across the "long wall you want to remove extending to the opposite exterior wall. You will need footings at all three locations where you will tie the beams together. In my case they were 24x24x16" deep. To that I had 4x6x1/4" steel posts. The horizontal portion they were holding up was 4x10x5/16" steel. I'm a welder and have the equipment so steel was easy(ER) for me.

It is a lot of work, but worth the effort. My problem is that now that I've done it here both my daughters want me to do it at their houses. What luck, I get to spend more time with them.

Comments (7)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
9 years ago
"You need a structural engineer to design this."

Yep.
PRO
Cabot & Rowe
9 years ago
Yes an engineer will need to sign off on this project and give specifications. Don't hire anyone to do the work who will not show the engineer's stamp. You'll need that for the building permit anyway.
juno_barks
9 years ago
We just did this for our kitchen.

Yes, structural engineer is required. We also used an architect (but probably could have done as well to have gone straight to the structural engineer).

Our project involved installing a 25-foot steel I beam, and it cost us $7500. IMHO, it was worth every penny. The open feel is amazing (though I do wish we could get on with installing the kitchen!).
Bruce in Northern Virginia
9 years ago
We had a similar layout change in our kitchen remodel and they used LVL beams (manufactured beams) and wood posts to replace the existing framed wall. The new posts were right on top of the existing steel beam in the floor, so keeping the proper load transfer to the basement footings was relatively simple.

Our contractor made the design and we had the structural engineer sign off on the plans that went to the city. The tables for LVL beam size requirements were easy to understand, and they already assumed the load of one story above the beam.

One option our contractor offered was whether to put the 2nd floor joists on top of the new LVL beam (like they already were on top of the existing framed wall) or put the LVL beam up higher and connect the floor joists to the side of the LVL beam (which would hide the beam in the ceiling.) We chose to just replace the wall with a beam under the joists, so there is still a "divider" that projects down about one foot from the ceiling.

Bruce
naughtykitty
9 years ago
I did this recently. I hired a structural engineer. I had to have a custom-made metal wall, a new header beam, and beef up a vertical column. I wasn't expecting to have to do any of this, but I really really wanted to open up my kitchen. It was worth it and I love the openness.
feisty68
9 years ago
I agree - this is a question for a structural engineer. I would get that ball rolling quickly because IME and from what I have read, that step can be quite time-consuming.