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I have a couple of questions. First is a structural question about balloon framing. I’m doing a kitchen remodel in a duplex built in 1903. We are turning it into a single unit. The kitchen is single story 13’X24′. There is a wall splitting this into two 13’X12 spaces. This wall is perpendicular to the floor joists. The studs go down to a sill about 6″ below the floor. The top plate is below a beaded board ceiling. In the attic the ceiling joists butt up to each other at this mid-point. The wall is only 10’6″ as there is a chimney on the outside wall. When I started, I decided this wall must be load bearing and plan to put a header across the span. I guess my question is: if this is bearing wall does it support only the ceiling or somehow does it support the roof?
The second question is about a pressed fiber board(very soft) that was used on the walls during a early remodel. What was this material called? When was it being used? I assume that it is a pre-sheetrock product but the guys at the lumber company don’t know anything about it. Thanks.
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M., I have some of the same stuff on a ceiling from an old remodel from who knows when. It seems very similar to Homosote, or what is often called "bullshit board" around here. Much narrower, though. Mine appears to have been put up after drywall was placed over the old horse-hair plaster on the walls.
*M., We call it "beaver board". I tore some out of a project where it was used as a base for plaster.It was a surprisingly good base for the plaster and a pain to remove. I think it was commonly used in the fifties and sixties.Kelly
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Load bearing walls are always perpendicular to the floor joists. The fact that the celing joists are split over this wall is further evidence of the load bearing nature of the wall. Your post does not state, but I assume the structure is single story, so the wall is only supporting the ceiling joists, and while that is not a lot of dead weight, I would hate to see those come crashing down. This wall would not appear to support the roof, as I assume that this is a hip roof, supported by the plates on the outside and eachother at the top. Sounds load bearing to me. You may want to call a structural engineer, or get some on site help.
The fur board you mention is quite common in the 40's and 50's, and I have seen it in attics as partitions and under plaster. It was not in common use before the 40's. It is worthless.
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Out west this material is called fir-tex. It was used extensive in the 40's and 50's as a paintable surface. I've never seen it used under plaster. The closest modern material is Homosote board. It has its appropriate uses. We paneled two walls in our architectural office in it because it offers a wonderful surface for pinning up drawings. It also has a high level of acoustical absorption.
David E.
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I have a couple of questions. First is a structural question about balloon framing. I'm doing a kitchen remodel in a duplex built in 1903. We are turning it into a single unit. The kitchen is single story 13'X24'. There is a wall splitting this into two 13'X12 spaces. This wall is perpendicular to the floor joists. The studs go down to a sill about 6" below the floor. The top plate is below a beaded board ceiling. In the attic the ceiling joists butt up to each other at this mid-point. The wall is only 10'6" as there is a chimney on the outside wall. When I started, I decided this wall must be load bearing and plan to put a header across the span. I guess my question is: if this is bearing wall does it support only the ceiling or somehow does it support the roof?
The second question is about a pressed fiber board(very soft) that was used on the walls during a early remodel. What was this material called? When was it being used? I assume that it is a pre-sheetrock product but the guys at the lumber company don't know anything about it. Thanks.