When searching for a new home, the perfect property can sometimes be just one poorly positioned wall away from being perfect. Sometimes the solution is simple – just delete the wall – but when it turns out to be a load bearing wall, the fix can become a lot more complicated and expensive.
READ: Renovations that add value to your home and those that don’t
According to Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, it is important to be able to spot the potential in a property. “If you can find a more affordable property that has the potential to be transformed into a beautiful and functional home, you will stand to make a far greater return on investment than if you had purchased a perfect property to begin with,” says Goslett.
However, not all homes have the potential to be easily transformed. “Some renovation projects can turn into an endless money pit if the homeowner failed to plan properly and fully understand the scope of the work that needed to be completed,” he warns.
Goslett adds that one of the most common mistakes many sellers make is thinking that a wall can be easily removed or shifted. “Certain walls will be loadbearing, which means that they cannot be shifted or removed unless some other form of support is installed to take the weight of the floor or roof above it.”
If a wall turns out to be loadbearing, the work-around is to install some form of a concrete lintel or beam or steel joists to support the surface above before the wall can be shifted or removed. The exact kind of support will need to be prescribed by a professional architect, which partly explains why these kinds of renovations are quite costly to undertake.
READ: 3 ideas on how you can bring depth to your walls
To avoid being caught off guard by discovering that a load bearing wall is blocking your path towards you and your new open-concept home, RE/MAX of Southern Africa shares a few tips on how to spot a load bearing wall before calling out a qualified architect to confirm:
- Ask the seller for a copy of the building plans. Load bearing walls should be indicated as such on the building plans.
- Examine the crawl space to identify walls that support the roof structure. Roof trusses or rafters will often be attached directly above load bearing walls.
- Knock on the wall to hear if it is hollow or solid. Although this is not a guarantee, the thicker and more solid the wall, the more likely it will be load bearing.
- The layout of the home should also give you clues. Load bearing walls are commonly found along the centre or perimeter of the building, as well as beneath heavy structural elements like chimneys or staircases.
“Spotting load-bearing walls can sometimes mean the difference between over-capitalising or profiting from a home renovation. By checking for load bearing walls before going ahead with a purchase, buyers can make more informed decisions regarding any future renovations. Remember, when in doubt, always seek professional guidance to ensure the safety and integrity of your home,” says Goslett.
READ: Wall cracks in your new house? Don’t panic, here's why
Additional information:
Here are some general causes for cracks that you don't need to worry about apart from fixing them:
Home-Dzine explains what the possible causes of fine cracks in walls are:
Newly built brick and plaster homes, including any new additions or extensions, are guaranteed to have a few minor cracks or hairline cracks as a result of settling. As the foundation settles and the mortar and plaster shrinkage there is bound to be some movement and wall cracks that occur
Houses located close to a busy road or nearby building sites may experience cracks caused by vibrations. Even though vibrations are small, they pass through the ground as they disperse and this can result in hairline cracks that regularly appear.
Poor building practices can also be blamed for cracks in a house, particularly where houses are not built to code or local municipal regulations. It could be that no concrete lintels (supports) were installed above windows, doors and wall openings, or it could be that the foundations were not compact enough. There are many causes where bad building practices can come to light once you move into a property, which is why it is essential that you confirm that any building work is guaranteed and for how long.
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