Can Inside Studs Be Cut on a Load Bearing Wall?

The Short Answer

• Technically, you can cut inside studs on a load-bearing wall. But many things could go wrong during the process if the proper preparatory steps aren’t followed. So you're courting disaster if you attempt to do this on your own. While a single stud might not cause the house to fall down, the risks are high enough that you should never attempt to cut a stud without the proper knowledge beforehand.

The Long Answer

• Any long-time carpenter or professional in the field will tell you that while technically you can cut the studs out of a load-bearing wall, you must take dozens of steps into consideration beforehand to ensure the safety of the workers as well as the people living in the home. One wrong step could lead to the whole structure caving in, which not only damages the home but can potentially harm anyone still inside the structure.

Hiring a Professional

• If you absolutely have to cut the studs on a load-bearing wall, your very first step should be hiring a structural engineer to help in the planning. This is not an optional step. In addition, hire a qualified, licensed professional who has the tools and can do the job according to the specifications of the engineer. This is the only way to ensure the safety of everyone involved, not to mention the structural integrity of your home.

Bracing

• The most important part of cutting studs in a load-bearing wall is including some form of bracing during the cutting process so that the weight of the wall is supported by the brace once the support of the stud is cut out. Think of it like a bridge. If one of the support columns on a bridge is suddenly removed, the entire bridge begins to sag at that point. Eventually, if enough pressure is applied, the whole bridge will fall down.