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Building a Home Remodeling Design Dilemma

Is this wall load bearing and can I remove these studs?

2 years ago

I am working on a pantry project. I want to create some shelving between the studs on one wall. When I opened up the wall, there were additional studs I wasn't expecting. After looking at the plan I think it's another wall running perpendicular. I want to remove these stud but not sure if it's load bearing or not. (I don't need to remove them completely.)

Here's the opening with the 3 studs.

Here's a quick screenshot of our plans. The red circled area is the area where the studs are.

Thanks for your help!

Featured Answer

PRO

PPF.

2 years ago

Those two studs are there to give the drywall on the other side something to attach to, and the blocking between them gives the perpendicular wall on the other side something to attach to.

If you remove all of that, you will only have a thin piece of paper tape and some drywall mud in the corner holding the drywall and wall in position.

As for if the wall is load bearing, no one can say from your picture. You need to determine if there is a structural load on the wall by looking at what's above the wall.

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Comments (14)

Danielle S
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you @PPF. These 3 - 2x4"s are between my wall studs which sit 16" apart, so I'm hoping they aren't.
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millworkman
2 years ago
"These 3 - 2x4"s are between my wall studs which sit 16" apart, so I'm hoping they aren't."

That does not mean that they are structural and does not mean that are not. It is just not possible to be certain one way or the other if it is loading bearing from the picture and info offered.
Danielle S
Original Author
2 years ago
@PPF. and @millworkman — would it help to see the 2nd floor plan (what's above it) or are you thinking I need to have someone come and inspect it?
cat_ky
2 years ago
You need to have someone that knows about load bearing walls (not just someone off the street), to come in and do a thorough inspection. They will need attic access, to do this. As to those two 2x4 you want to remove, well, you can be assured, they were not just put there, because someone wanted to put in some 2x4. They are there for a very good reason. Its just the way the house was built., so dont remove anything more until you get it inspected.
SBDRH
2 years ago
Regardless of whether the wall is load bearing or not, as @PPF. mentioned, those studs are there to tie the perpendicular wall to that pantry wall. Think about what will happen to the two corners "behind" your pantry wall if you remove those studs. The drywall in each of the corners (the half bath and the other space) will be completely unsupported in the corner. This is a bad idea.
kudzu9
2 years ago
Not only will the drywall be unsupported, but there is no way to remove those studs without causing damage to the sheetrock corners.
worthy
2 years ago
there were additional studs I wasn't expecting.

That's what stud finders were invented for.
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
2 years ago
"That's what stud finders were invented for."

She did use a stud finder:
res2architect
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Supporting the drywall on the other side is a problem. As for load bearing, you can add a header and jack studs just in case there's a load from above.

Looking in the basement might tell you more than looking on the floor above.

Is the small space saved really that important?
K H
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I would put my stud space shelving to the left of that stud cavity. I would not go right because you may hit a vent pipe for the powder room.
PRO
Debbi Washburn
2 years ago
Ditto to what everyone else has said.

That would not be an area for you to do a stud pantry.
PRO
Jarret Yoshida Design
2 years ago
There is no way of telling from the photo if this is load bearing or not. You need to have an architect or engineer in to look and determine of this is truly load bearing and then come up with a plan from there. Err on the side of caution to stay away from problems later on.
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
2 years ago
Technically, all studs are load bearing. They are either bearing the load of the floor above or the gypsum board attached to it. Do not remove or alter any studs unless I am the beneficiary named on your life insurance policy.

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