Structural Work for New Layouts
Opening a kitchen to the living room is often a structural job. We bring in the engineer, size the beam and posts and build it under a permit.
Is the wall load bearing?
We look at what sits above the wall: ceiling joists, a roof load or a second floor. If it carries load, an engineer designs a beam and the posts and footings that carry it down to the foundation.
Flush beams and dropped beams
A dropped beam hangs below the ceiling and costs less. A flush beam sits inside the ceiling for a clean line, and it takes more framing work. The choice changes how the opened room looks, so we decide it with the layout.
Foundations and seismic work
New posts may need new footings. Older houses may need bolting to the foundation or bracing at the cripple walls. We plan that work with the remodel so it happens while floors and walls are already open.
Structural Work: questions
Most can, with the right beam and posts. Some walls hide plumbing stacks or ducts that are hard to move. We find those before the plan is fixed.
For a load-bearing wall, yes. The engineer's calculations go into the permit set, and the city inspects the beam and posts before the ceiling is closed.
The framing work itself is short. Engineering, permit review and the finishing around the new opening take longer, and we lay out each stage in the quote.
Cities where we plan structural work
Want to open up the kitchen?
Tell us which wall and what is above it. We plan the structure and quote it with the rest of the remodel.