[treylagger]

Just curious if anyone has looked in to this. We move into our Eagle next month and was thinking that opening this area up would help make the living space bigger. Not sure if this is a load bearing wall or not... I do realize the ceiling heights are different.

[villagetinker]

OP, you should be able to go to the county building department and get the actual plans for your house (I did this with Sumter county several years ago). These will note load bearing walls. Once you have this information you can consider if you want to proceed.
NOTE: flooring is installed AFTER walls are installed, so you will have a gap when the wall is removed, and you will need to consider how you will resolve this. There will be a gap also in the ceiling area, so I would suggest a professional to repair the ceiling in this area. You may have electrical work in this wall, DONT NOT JUST CUT OFF THE WIRES, have an electrician do the disconnection correctly.
Good luck with your project.

[asianthree]

Have to ask, what will you do with the height difference in the ceiling? We had friends who did the same, but different model with same ceiling height., opening up the adjacent bedroom, because living space was too small. Just observation, but it looked weird. After spending large chunk of change to convert they had mixed feelings, because instead of extension it was like a room off to the side.

3 years later took 4 different agents and 2 years to sell, because it was a two bed. After commissions, the reno they said the lost money.

[Snakster66]

I live in a Wisteria (same basic model) and the thought would never occur to me. The living area is actually pretty big IMO. And I have an 85" tv on the one wall and we are definitely far enough away to accommodate.

[MarshBendLover]

Interesting idea. Load bearing can also be determined through the attic. If it is, one or two interior solid columns could add the support along with style with a faux beam showing on the high side ceiling. Also, the wall can easily be put back if need to sell.

[villagetinker]

Originally Posted by CigarMaster

Interesting idea. Load bearing can also be determined through the attic. If it is, one or two interior solid columns could add the support along with style with a faux beam showing on the high side ceiling. Also, the wall can easily be put back if need to sell.

While I tend to agree with your comments, this would require permits, and in previous dealings with Sumter County, they will require an engineer to design the new support system. No idea of an additional footer would be required in the area the new supports would be installed.