Wall removal?

[Peg&Buzz]

We are in the inspection phase of purchasing a manuf home installed in 1983, and want to take out an internal wall that appears to be necessary for support. It runs down the center, forming part of the wall alongside the hallway. It is a section about four feet long, dividing the kitchen from the dining area. Who do we contact for advise?

[Mac]

I think you came to the right place... I wonder if posts would serve the same function. I'm sure you can't just remove it.

[Mark Bower]

Depends if you are talking about a doublewide or singlewide home. With most singlewide homes, the interior walls are not supportive. On most doublewides, the exterior walls, marriage (center) wall and any wall positioned where the ceiling changes height are all supporting walls and should be left alone.

Mark
You gotta see my repair manual!

[Eugene]

On single wide homes there are certain interior partition walls that are called Shear walls and they transfer wind load, these should not be altered at all.
On double wides, you can not open the marraige wall. you are asking for trouble.

[Mike Myers]

Shear walls are extra-strength walls in the corners of buildings - most people don't even realize they are there. A 1983 home? Its probably made of panel-covered 2"x2" wood - and simply is there to divide space. Knock it out!

[Eugene]

Mike, you are mistaken.
The feature wall in the living room of almost every single section home is a shear wall. it has 2 x 4 studs at 16: oc and a glue block with lags to the floor. Other walls are often shear walls too, depending on the length of the home.
Your advise could cause a real problem for these people.
If they want to know if the wall is a shear wall or an otherwise load bearing wall, they should get a floor plan of the home.
Please, don't post advise that can cause problems for people.

[Mike]

Eugene,

re-read the original post. You are correct though in that some mobiles have interior shear walls.

Peg and Buzz-

How thick is the wall? If it is 4" thick or more, you may need to leave it in place.

[Eugene]

Almost every single section home and a lot of doubles have interior shear walls. Also, they can be built from 2x3"s so the four inch rule is not good either.

[charla]

I have been researching this in the last couple of days also. I found a different forum where most people agreed we could remove a wall also. It's a single, 14x46 with pitched roof all the way down the middle. We are wanting to remove the wall separating the living area with a tiny bedroom. The manufacturer said this was a shear wall, but I can't see that it actually does anything besides divide the space. Can Eugene please elaborate on this type of wall and how it does what a shear wall does? I'm so confused also.

[MOE]

I just prchased a single wide, and want to remove, what looks to me, to be a decorative break, between the kitchen and the living room. the wall is 2' by 3.5", with a stained glass window in the middle. the thing that concerns me, is that it is directly centered at the peak of the roof. if it is not load bearing I want it gone, but I don't want to compromise the structure.