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enter image description hereenter image description hereI know the most sure way to figure this out is to have an engineer look at this but am hoping to get some insight here from someone knowledgeable in this area.

We live in a condo and have a truss roof system. Our unit is 2 stories and is on 1 half of the main roof trusses (the largest ones). There are other little peaks with their own baby trusses around our house over small exterior pop outs and our shower is under one of those small pop outs.

We want to remove the wall that is in the center of this little pop out on the second floor and I’m wondering if there is any chance it is holding any load?

It is running perpendicular to the trusses above it but both trusses also run from each exterior wall and the span is fairly small (8/9 ft) from each exterior side.

This little area only has 3 trusses that it is composed of; the outer most exterior truss, one in the middle and then one on the inner side which is then attached to a larger truss which also becomes an outermost exterior truss further along in the house. (Guessing that is what those metal straps are where those 2 trusses meet up).

In the photos:

1st: close up photo is looking into the mini truss area. It seems the brace is being held up by the exterior wall and not the blue one i want to remove?

2nd: from the outside and the red line is signifying where the wall is we want to remove on the second floor

3rd: : from the inside. The blue is outlining what I want to remove.

4th: The blue arrows are the walls I want to remove. The red boxes are where the exterior parts of the pop out are in the house.

Would there be any chance this little wall could be holding up any of this structure?! Not looking to be told how bad of an idea this is or how unsafe. I am very aware of the ramifications of taking out a bearing wall. Just looking for advice. enter image description here THANK YOU!

enter image description here.imgur.com/Qoc1d.jpg

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  • Need a better picture of the wall above the shower showing how the top is connected. Just FYI this appears to be very clearly holding a load. It might not be of consequence but any building inspector will want an engineer sign-off for this.
    – DMoore
    Commented Jul 9, 2020 at 17:01
  • I added another photo of the inside area :)
    – Bridget Killian
    Commented Jul 9, 2020 at 17:12
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    That picture helps. Doing this for quite a while I can say that picture clearly shows the wall was created to carry part of the roof load. It could probably end at the door opening for the toilet. I know its frustrating that there is a wall 4 feet over on one side and 3 feet on the other. You may be able to take it out. Not saying a definite no. But there is no way you should do this without an engineer sign-off.
    – DMoore
    Commented Jul 9, 2020 at 17:13
  • It is really bothersome for that wall that the truss footing is actually sitting on this wall. They didn't really have to tie in the wall to the footing like that but did.
    – DMoore
    Commented Jul 9, 2020 at 17:15
  • I appreciate your help.I was hoping that wouldn't be the answer. Why would that brace come down onto that 2x6 on the exterior wall before the "wawll in question" and be made of 2 separate boards? Wouldn't it be better if that were sitting on 1 single 2x6? I added another photo.
    – Bridget Killian
    Commented Jul 9, 2020 at 17:26

1 Answer 1

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Based on the current very top picture there are three main indicators.

#1 - These are directly under and perpendicular to the loaded joists.

#2 - As mentioned in the comments the left part of the wall is under the footings for the truss.

#3 - This is actually the most damning evidence of this being load bearing... The right side of the picture. Two clues here - the brace for the plumbing and the wall of 2x4s. You simply wouldn't worry about a plumbing brace on a non-load bearing wall and you definitely wouldn't squeeze 6-7 2xs at the end of this wall (also a good indicator that this is a point load and the door and over to the right are not of consequence).

Again if you are set on removing you can consult and engineer/architect with full blueprints. I mean normally you don't need this many load bearing walls in a short span so maybe there is a solution but no inspector will allow you to remove it without sign-off.

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