Are all studs on a load-bearing wall necessary?
On One Hand: Do Not Alter Load-Bearing WallsLoad-bearing walls typically have studs that are 16 inches apart. If you alter a load-bearing wall by removing some of the studs, you may weaken it. The result can be windows warping, floors sagging, and even the collapse of your home’s upper floor.On the Other: Proper Rebuilding May Allow Stud RemovalA professional builder may be able to remove some studs from a load-bearing wall by redistributing the weight along the rest of the wall. To do this, he installs a support beam where the top plate of the wall was or in the ceiling and columns on each side of the new opening to handle the weight.Bottom LineConsult your home’s blueprints or have your home inspected before removing any part of a wall to determine if it is a load-bearing wall.
