Load-bearing wall in a brick house: how to identify it, lay it out correctly and insulate it?

Load-bearing walls are essential to preserving the stability and strength of any brick home. Because these walls bear the weight of the floors, roof, and other structural elements, it is crucial to properly identify and construct them in order to ensure the building’s longevity and safety. To make sure your house stays safe, you must first learn how to identify a load-bearing wall.

Accuracy is crucial when designing the layout of a load-bearing wall. In order to make sure that the wall distributes weight evenly throughout the building, precise measurement and alignment are required. In addition to offering support, a well-built load-bearing wall enhances the appearance and usability of your entire house. To get the intended outcomes, it’s critical to adhere to construction guidelines and best practices.

It is equally important to insulate a load-bearing wall, particularly in areas with harsh weather. Through temperature regulation and energy cost reduction, proper insulation contributes to the maintenance of a comfortable indoor environment. Without sacrificing the wall’s structural integrity, you can increase its thermal efficiency by selecting the appropriate insulation materials and installation methods.

Topic	Details
Identifying Load-Bearing Walls	Look for walls aligned directly above or below other walls, or those supporting beams or joists. Exterior walls are usually load-bearing.
Laying Out Load-Bearing Walls	Plan the layout to align with structural elements. Ensure proper support and use the right materials to maintain structural integrity.
Insulating Load-Bearing Walls	Use insulation materials that do not compromise structural strength. Consider rigid foam or spray foam insulation for effective thermal protection.

What it is?

A large portion of the structure’s mass is taken on by load-bearing walls, which also exert pressure on the foundation. They bear the weight of the roof, beams, and floors, among other components situated overhead. Furthermore, they support their own weight and act as partitions between adjoining rooms.

The following components are included for the carriers:

• exterior walls;
• those located between blocks;
• supporting flights of stairs.

Even though insulation is not necessary, the load-bearing walls inside the building are subject to a greater load than their external counterparts.

Walls that support loads are untouchable. What sets them apart from others:

1. The thickness of the masonry is measured in bricks, from one to three. A full brick is 250 mm. According to the requirements, it is additionally provided with a standard seam width of 10 mm. Load-bearing walls are built with a thickness of 360 to 640 mm, that is, with a masonry of 1.5 to 2.5 bricks. The choice depends on the region where the construction is carried out, the colder, the thicker the wall.
2. They are located directly on the foundation, and not on the floors.

The load-bearing walls cannot be partially or completely disassembled if, after the building has been in use for a few years, you decide to change the furnishings. If not, the load will be redistributed, endangering the building’s integrity and possibly causing cracks and deformation.

How to understand what they are?

An idea exists: a load-bearing frame. This comprises the main structural elements of the building, upon which the entire house is supported: the foundation, load-bearing walls, roof, floors, and beams. This structure’s strength guarantees the building’s overall stability and its capacity to withstand loads and pressures that could cause it to bend or deform critically.

As a structural component, the frame is constructed in accordance with the building’s dimensions and intended use. A frameless frame is typically used when constructing cottages and private homes because it is less expensive, fully complies with safety regulations, and requires less time to install than a frame option.

Here, strong internal longitudinal and transverse walls that are attached to the foundation and the external walls become load-bearing. The stairs give the stable box that results more rigidity, and floors are laid between them.

Since it bears the majority of the weight, the lower portion of the walls is typically thicker and more massive than those nearer the second floor or the roof. For instance, the second floor has thinner walls, measuring only 360 mm, while the ground floor’s walls are composed of brick with 640 mm of masonry.

Inside a building, load-bearing walls can be:

1. Longitudinal. They are located along the outer wall, which is longer. The floors will be laid perpendicular to them. Such load-bearing walls are built at a distance of the width of the floor. This scheme is suitable for elongated houses.
2. Transverse. They line up along shorter external walls. The frame with them becomes more stable and rigid, but then the internal layout will be limited in possibilities, it will not be possible to change the width of the rooms, it will be fixed by transverse load-bearing walls.
3. With the participation of both longitudinal and transverse walls. In this case, a combination of two types is made. Rigidity here is ensured by a well-chosen combination, the interconnection of flights of stairs, floors, which are rigidly connected to the load-bearing walls. This option is suitable for houses of non-standard shape.

The typical floor is six meters long. Consequently, there can be no more space than this amount between load-bearing walls. Additionally, if one of the house’s exterior walls is longer than the other, a longitudinal or transverse load-bearing wall needs to be located inside. It is situated where the floors of different floors converge.

SNiP and SP standards

SP 70.13330.2012 on load-bearing and enclosing structures and SNiP 3.03.01-87 p.7 both state the following:

1. The difference in height between the walls should not exceed 1.2 m.
2. The next floor can be erected only after installing the floors and monolithically fastening the seams.
3. Mooring beacons must be installed to control the uniformity of the masonry. Permissible deviation from the vertical – no more than 5 mm if the masonry is jointed. No more than 7 mm if under plaster. After each row, an instrumental check of vertical and horizontal accuracy is required.
4. The thickness of joints in horizontal masonry when creating walls made of ceramic or silicate bricks should not exceed 12 mm, in vertical masonry – no more than 10 mm.
5. The dimensions of the finished structure may differ from those laid down in the project by no more than 15 mm in thickness. Also, no more than 15 mm error in the width of openings and walls is allowed.
6. Vertically, the wall and corners cannot deviate by more than 10 mm within one floor. If the building is up to 2 floors high – no more than 15 mm. The vertical position during the laying process is controlled by a plumb line.
7. It is unacceptable to weaken structures through unplanned openings and niches.
8. The supporting surfaces may deviate by no more than 10 mm. Vertical axes for window openings can be shifted by no more than 20 mm. The axes of the load-bearing wall can shift no more than 10 mm.
9. Horizontal wall deviation is allowed no more than 15 mm for every 10 m. Check this requirement using a building level.
10. When forming masonry load-bearing walls in places where a prefabricated structure is planned (installation of floors, beams, window openings, etc.) bonded rows are laid.
11. If a connection is planned with a partition that will be built later, fines are created at the connection points and reinforcement is installed (at a distance of every 2 meters).

A table listing the maximum wall height requirements for different types of masonry can be found in the set of rules.

Brick requirements

For the construction of both residential and non-residential buildings, two types of brick are used:

1. Ceramic or red. Its composition is based on clay, advantages: resistance to damage, durability, tolerates low temperatures, retains heat. Disadvantage: susceptible to cracking, absorbs moisture. Standard sizes 250*120*65.
2. Silicate or white. The composition is based on lime and sand. It is characterized by frost resistance, the ability to store heat, is not afraid of fire, and creates a comfortable microclimate in the house. Disadvantages: fragile, it cannot be placed below ground level; when in contact with moisture, the brick loses strength. Size matches red.

Solid brick is needed to build load-bearing walls. Its uniform, dense structure allows it to withstand pressure all the way around. The surface of ordinary brick for rough masonry is rough. The material is rough, fully fired, and its color may change.

Chips are permitted all the way around the brick, as long as they don’t take up more than one square centimeter. A strength grade of M125 or higher is the minimum that should be used; M200, M250, and higher values are preferable. The brick can withstand more pressure the higher its designation.

Frost resistance starting at F25 and up. The number of freezing cycles the material can withstand is indicated by this indicator. It is crucial to realize that a brick may freeze and thaw multiple times in a single season, so it is preferable to choose a brand with a higher coefficient, such as one from F50 and above.

GOST 530-2007 contains the material’s regulatory requirements.

Necessary materials and tools for masonry

In order to build a brick wall, you’ll need:

• triangular spatula with a curved handle (trowel);
• Master OK;
• hammer-pick 30 cm;
• mortar spatula;
• level, plumb line, triangle, order;
• mooring cord;
• solution and container for it.

Grouting is not required for grouting. After using a spatula to remove extra mortar, the rough masonry will be concealed by the layers of cladding, insulation, and plaster.

Stages of work

The foundation serves as the base for the load-bearing walls, so waterproofing the base is a prerequisite before beginning construction.

The base of the building is usually covered by an overlapped single-layer membrane or roofing material. Bitumen mastic is applied to joints to prevent moisture from seeping through the foundation and into the walls.

The average temperature of the area influences the choice of masonry. 1.5 bricks are allowed in the southern lane of Russia, but 2-2.5 brick options are more frequently used in the middle and northern lanes.

There are numerous, dependable ways to dress that can be applied to the full length of the wall. Masons should have a plan with openings and points of connection with nearby walls before they begin work.

Preparation of the solution

To minimize shrinkage, a rigid mortar mass is used at the seams. How to get ready for the joining solution:

• You will need a cement mixture of the M400 brand and pure river sand without impurities, dry components are connected in a ratio of 4: 1;
• add water to the resulting mixture to make it homogeneous and plastic;
• prepare the solution in portions so that it does not have time to harden during the work process.

Creating a structure with insulation

Phases of construction for a fully insulated, load-bearing wall:

1. Form the first row of rough masonry. For example, an option of 2 bricks, lay it dry, taking into account the additional distance at the seams. Before installation, the brick is moistened in water. This is done to prevent the porous and dry material from absorbing water from the solution before it hardens.
2. Start rigidly fixing the wall from the corner; further observance of the horizontal walls depends on it. The system for bandaging the corners depends on preference; the physical properties of the wall do not change depending on the choice.
3. The corner is initially built in 4 rows. To form the frame of the building, the press-on masonry technique is used. The mortar mass is placed at a distance of approximately 1 cm from the outer edge of the brick. Stretch the mixture over the surface with a trowel, then place the brick on top, pressing it to the base. The handle of the trowel is tapped on the material, the horizontal and vertical are checked using a building level. In the process, the solution will be partially squeezed out of the seams, it is used to form new ones.
4. Then continue the first row of walls to the connection along the entire perimeter, taking into account the openings and the exit to the combined partitions. The starting row is the most important, it forms the direction of the wall. Before forming the next one, it is recommended to strictly check all the horizontals and verticals and repeat the check every 4-5 rows.
5. To form the required rigidity, you can add a reinforced mesh to the seams every 4-5 rows.
6. After the walls rise to the desired height, the floors take their place, insulation is laid along the outside of the house. The procedure is not necessary if the house is located in warm regions.
7. Next, the facing masonry is formed, rigidly connected to the rough. The cladding is laid in 1 row of beautiful bricks (red, silicate, clinker, etc.).

The house goes through all phases, from the appearance of the roof to the laying of communications, between rough masonry and cladding. The installation of windows and doors typically occurs right away, with the facade’s final design, cladding, and insulation of load-bearing walls constituting the last stages of construction.

Possible errors and their consequences

What might not work well:

1. The masonry has deviated. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to constantly check the angles, horizontal and vertical. If it was not possible to keep track, the wall must be disassembled and rebuilt, since compliance with the geometry is necessary for the strength and stability of the house frame. Small deviations can be smoothed out later using plaster.
2. Incorrect dressing. The bricks must be laid out so that the load from one of them falls on the two lower ones. The seams should not match, otherwise the strength of the structure is greatly reduced. Those who create masonry for the first time need to familiarize themselves with the technology and dressing options and practice dry.
3. Poorly sealed seams significantly reduce the thermal insulation properties and structural strength. The solution should lie smoothly, without gaps. Therefore, they use the pressing principle, when the mixture under pressure fills the voids.

Some builders rush through the process of building rough walls, don’t observe uniform distribution of the solution, and don’t give the process proper attention. The most crucial part of the construction are the load-bearing walls, so each brick needs to be carefully and thoroughly examined.

Pros and cons of using building materials

Benefits

• strong and durable material that retains its properties for centuries, maintaining decent appearance and quality for a long time;
• brick is a frost-resistant material, does not react to wind, prevents the penetration of moisture, it does not rot, and is not susceptible to attack by insects and rodents;
• withstands high temperatures, fireproof;
• high sound insulation properties;
• environmentally friendly, maintains a favorable climate inside the building.

Drawbacks:

• heavy – for load-bearing walls you will need a lot of bricks, which need to be transported by several machines, this is expensive, there is also a large load on the foundation, which will need to be given maximum attention and strengthened, which also requires financial investments;
• each brick requires laying by hand, the load-bearing walls are the thickest, it will take a lot of time to install;
• It is not recommended to work with them in winter, otherwise the solution will not retain its properties and cracks will appear in the walls later;
• There may be problems with the passage of radio waves into the room, which affects the operation of some devices.

For a brick home to be structurally sound and safe, load-bearing walls must be identified and built correctly. It’s critical to recognize load-bearing walls from non-load-bearing walls because these walls bear the weight of the roof and upper stories. In order to ensure proper layout, walls must be plumb and level, and the right materials and construction methods must be used to distribute weight evenly. In addition to improving energy efficiency, insulating load-bearing walls guards against temperature fluctuations and moisture, which over time can lead to structural deterioration. The longevity and comfort of your house are guaranteed by the proper identification, construction, and insulation of these walls.

What determines the prices for work??

The complexity of the masonry (1.5, 2, or 2.5 bricks), the building’s dimensions, and the layout all affect how much the work will cost. In certain instances, walls must be formed not just horizontally or vertically, but also with rounded edges, acute corners, etc.

The cost of work to implement a layout increases with its creativity. The category of performers has an impact on the price as well. The additional cost of the work per m3 is roughly 100–200 rubles if reinforcement is needed.

The approximate cost of load-bearing brick walls in Russian cities is as follows:

Title of works	Moscow and Moscow region, r/m3	St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region, r/m3	Krasnodar, r/m3	Kazan, r/m3
Rough masonry of 2.5 bricks	4000	4000	3800	3900
Rough masonry of 2 bricks	3800	3600	3500	3800
Rough masonry of 1.5 bricks	2200	2200	2000	2200

In order to guarantee the security and functionality of the building, load-bearing walls in a brick home must be identified, built, and insulated. Finding hints about these walls’ location in the floor plan, thickness in relation to other walls, and alignment with roof trusses or beams are some ways to identify them. Since these walls bear the weight of the roof and floors, correctly identifying them is crucial to preserving the structural integrity of the entire building.

Precise planning and execution are essential when laying load-bearing walls. A stable and long-lasting structure is facilitated by utilizing high-quality bricks and mortar and ensuring that the foundation is level and robust. Pay special attention to alignment and dimensions because minor errors can cause major problems later on. Preventing structural weaknesses and maintaining uniformity are two benefits of consistency in the construction process.

For comfort and energy efficiency, load-bearing walls must be properly insulated. Reducing energy costs and maintaining a constant interior temperature can be achieved by selecting and installing foam boards or fiberglass insulation appropriately. Insulation improves the living environment by functioning as a sound barrier in addition to promoting thermal comfort.

These load-bearing wall components can have a big impact on a brick house’s efficiency, safety, and longevity if they are understood and used. A structure that endures and offers security and comfort for many years can be built by homeowners and builders by following a methodical approach to identification, construction, and insulation.

Video on the topic

dismantling the load-bearing wall (cutting out blocks)

How to distinguish a load-bearing wall from a non-load-bearing one in a brick house or in a panel house

Strengthening the load-bearing wall to combine the living room with the kitchen in a 3-storey building.

How to determine whether a load-bearing wall is or not?

How to determine a load-bearing wall?

Load-bearing walls – partitions. How to determine which walls in the house can be demolished?