Trusses usually bear only on outside walls. Not very often is there any load bearing in mid span. You still need to get the truss engineer out to look at it and someone to sign off.
Framerman you got any more info about getting a engineer out to take a look at this wall that needs removeing. I have never had to do this so im curious to know how i go about getting one? I have spoken to some contractors and they said they have never bothered when doing what im doing but i dont wanna take any chances. Plus it cant be that expensive can it?
Famous last words.
I want to say that it should be fine, but those too are famous last words. I cannot guarantee that your situation is good to go. I'm just saying that in general, trusses are designed to span from outside wall to outside wall.
Take a camera into the attic and take pictures of the trusses in question. If they are a standard Fink truss (w-shape)
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or a Howe truss
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then it should be perfectly safe. These will be your most common truss designs. I would guess that you have Fink trusses.
The final call is on your part. If they look any different than those two pictures, then absolutely get someone out to look at it. If it's a Fink or Howe, then like I said, it should be good to go.
BTW, make sure it is a truss. Rafters and ceiling joists are a different ball game.
Post those pictures.
Isn't this a framing topic?
I don't think there is such a thing as an interior load bearing wall under roof trusses, is there? I have never heard of one. There are interior shear walls under roof trusses, that's the only thing you would have to watch out for. It's real unlikely the wall you want to tear out is going to be a shear wall though.
I def aint a expert but i thought shear walls used plywood or diagonal braces? These walls just have upright 2x4's with drywall!
There are such things as load bearing interior walls with trusses. I have set many a girder atop a load bearing interior load bearing wall. I have also set many girders on point load posts in interior walls that someone might be in for a surprise if they think they could take out the wall.
Framerman you got any more info about getting a engineer out to take a look at this wall that needs removeing. I have never had to do this so im curious to know how i go about getting one? I have spoken to some contractors and they said they have never bothered when doing what im doing but i dont wanna take any chances. Plus it cant be that expensive can it?
It'll be more expensive if you guess wrong.
If the framing contractors that you know can't steer you to an engineer or an architect, go to the building department in your municipality and ask them to give you names. They will usually give you a couple of names of ones they are familiar with. If all that fails, use the phone book, if there still is one, or just Google "Structural Engineers" for your area.
It'll cost you $150 +/- for the site visit. Maybe $250 to give you an opinion. It'll cost much more if you guess wrong.