New Home!!!

Happy Easter Everyone!

This is my first post on this forum or any forum actually. I have a couple questions I would like to throw out there for some advice. My wife and I are buying my great grandmothers house. It was built in 1965 and is in decent shape but there are a few things I need to do pretty quick.

#1. Flooring - The house still has the original carpet. Yep...original. We would like to put down a wood laminate in the main parts of the house and tile laminate in the bathrooms and kitchen. The price for having it installed is pretty high. I would like to do it myself. Has anyone had any experience in this area? Advice to do or not to do? Is it worth it to have them install it?

#2. Demolition - I need to remove a built in desk and china cabinet to open up the house in the entryway. I would like to do this before the flooring is done. How can I tell if a wall is load bearing? Should I have someone else do it, or is this something someone could "tackle" themselves?

I have many things that I have questions about but it would make one post look like a disertation. These are just the two most important at this time. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Robert
Katy, TX

Hello Robert, welcome to the forum, I am happy you joined us

For the flooring: what would you like to know specifically about that? It can be done - many people do it by themselves. However with an old house perhaps the floors aren't that level?

As for the walls. You should ask for a schematic of the house from the builders of it so you can know if a wall is a supporting wall. At least that is the way I would try to find out.

hiya robert
i agree with jaffie here...i think for the floors you should definately check to see if the floors are level, but it is definately do able.. 2nd with the walls i would have someone inspect. Being that the house is pretty old you dont know what changes might have been made. The floor plan will help but thats assuming not addtional changes were made.

GOOD LUCK
Donnie B

Hey Guys,
Thank you for the replies. I have been short on time lately so I have not had a chance to sit and type. Actually, I should be loading the truck right now but I am taking a little break.

The Flooring -

I looked at some sections of the concrete and everything seems level, and actually better than I thougt it would be. Now I am just waiting for the house to close so I can get the material financed and knock this out! I will post some pictures if I get a chance.


The Blueprints -
I have the original prints. Amazing! I will look at them with someone else that has more experience but I do not see any indication of diferentiating between load bearing and non-load bearing. There has not been any change but I guess I can get in the attic and look at the joist.

I will keep you updated on any success or failures I may experience. Right now I'm heading off to pressure wash the house. I do apologize for posting pretty "basic" questions but not taking advantage of someone else’s knowledge wouldn't make much since to me.

Thanks Again!
Robert

Robert congrats and good luck.

The flooring is very easy to work with and well worth the effort. I found it easier to not even bother with the spacers that they try and sell you to maintain your expansion room around the perimeter. Just eyeballing worked well especially if you have a thicker base board. Make sure you stagger your courses so you don't end up with any seams and keep the stagger varied to avoid a stair step effect.

JAB

Oh Robert, you seem to be going full speed ahead. That's good It sure would be appreciated if you, like you said, could keep us updated (we're curious now too)

Hi,Robert
I got curious about your house when you mentioned that you'll post pics here.
It's complicated to mend an old house,I think your problem is solved and everything is fine now.
Hope seeing your pics about the house here next time!

A wall is load bearing when it supports something above it or around it. It can be easily done yourself but if you aren't sure or are second guessing yourself absolutely get a second opinion.

If you don't have a finished basement you can find the main beam of the house easily. That's the biggest beefiest piece of wood and there's probably a few metal posts below it. It's supported every so often because it and anything directly above it is a load bearing wall. It's in the center of the house normally splitting it in half.

Any load bearing walls can not be removed, but they can be modified to make a longer stretch of opening, if desired.

It's pretty much common sense whether a wall is load bearing or not. Is the wall supporting something in the house above it?

Again, if you aren't sure get a second opinion.

JMBorchers, that is logic information you gave here, thank you very much for putting it so comprehensibly.

Greetings Neighbor, welcome to the Forum !

I'm a little late with this, missed it somehow.

Basement, probably not a concern, there's just not that many of them in Texas. And if you just have a One Story, then the Load Bearing issue won't be that much of a problem.

Yea, you probably got some Roof Supports there, and you can slip a couple of 2x4/2x6 up in the Attic to hold things up, IF those Roof Supports are sitting on the wall you're working with.

Other than than, both issues seem pretty straight forward, good luck, and keep us updated !

Have a good Day !
S.W.
Houston, Tx.