Fact checked by Emily Estep You'll want to know how to tell if a wall is load-bearing before you remove or alter it to merge rooms, add space, or rethink your home's layout. Several clues can help ...

More often than not, a wall that runs the whole height of your home, from the basement to attic, is a load-bearing wall, says Nick Clarke, woodworker, builder, and founder of Rad Dad Builds.

If you knock out an interior bearing wall, the materials above it will not be adequately supported. This may result in a gradual settling or cracking in adjacent and walls above.

Dear Pat: I see these makeover shows on television. I want to open up my kitchen to the family room, and it would be fun to knock out the wall myself. Someone said to be careful of bearing walls. W… ...

Rosie’s answer is, yes, with a good engineer and a big enough budget, you can get rid of any load bearing wall. The engineer will specify what is needed to support the ceiling in place of the wall.