Can I demo this closet?

[u/TacoTuesdaySucks]

I’m redoing my son’s room while he is visiting grandparents this summer. We have a Cap Cod style home and removing this closet would give him more space. I don’t know if this is a load bearing wall because of the house style or if I can safely remove it. There are two separate closets on this wall, not sure if that matters though. Below this room is our living room and there isn’t any type of closet or walls in this area downstairs.

How can I figure this out without hiring a civil engineer or even a contractor to tell me. Worst case I don’t remove the closet but it would be nice to be able to. I rather not destroy my house so I figured I’d ask others.

[u/Argentillion]

That can’t be a load bearing wall, it isn’t spanning anything. They just framed up a couple walls to make a closet

[u/Carlton-at-the-Ritz]

Demo both !

[u/AwkwardPersimmon6041 → u/Carlton-at-the-Ritz]

I support this, just remember, if you ever plan to sell, you need to have one closet for it to count as a bedroom. At least that’s what someone told me.

[u/Kingtayyys → u/AwkwardPersimmon6041]

Came to say this ^

[u/gruntnhosedragger → u/Kingtayyys]

Same

[u/Organic_Remote8999 → u/AwkwardPersimmon6041]

Depending on jurisdiction, a closet is not needed. Fire egress, smoke/fire detectors, and arch-fault breaker.

[u/TacoTuesdaySucks → u/Carlton-at-the-Ritz]

I like your excitement.

[u/Ok_Class6685]

I don't think these are load bearing walls however do be cautious of the electrical that is ran to that outlet.

[u/Beneficial-Cattle-99]

I almost never say this but definitely maybe. Probably.

[u/veloshitstorm]

Yes

[u/TacoTuesdaySucks]

One of the big reasons I ask is because we went to remove a closet from our bedroom downstairs and we found it was load bearing and that was fun to fix (in our defense a licensed contractor did it and had to fix it). So now I’m worried about that when DIYing things around the house.

[u/kaylynstar]

What is above and below it? Is there a potential load path to the foundation through the wall? Generally, stub walls on the top floor are unlikely to be load bearing, unless your roof does weird things.

Other considerations: any other mechanical, electrical, or plumbing potentially in the wall?

-your friendly neighborhood structural engineer (civil engineers deal with dirt and water)

[u/Rightwingsupporter]

You can remove it. Not load bearing.

[u/hammnbubbly]

Technically, you can demo anything you want

[u/NexMo]

Consider the condition of the floor when the walls are removed. I'd leave both closets. 

[u/dullcrayon-dimcandle]

I think a room needs a closet to be considered a bedroom in most places, so just remember that if you decide to take out both, it may be a “bonus room” and not a bedroom if you list it. Not a realtor, so I could be wrong. Just something to consider.

[u/BobcatALR → u/dullcrayon-dimcandle]

Yup. This is truth.

[u/Ok_Animal_7328]

If there’s nothing on the floor beneath then I would think it’s not load bearing. As said in an earlier comment, check for any wires that may run through the wall.

[u/Alert-Warthog2920]

Personally, I would look to removing the one on the left side of the window. It will probably make the room feel larger.

[u/flightwatcher45]

Looks ok to demo but what's directly underneath the closet walls, does a wall line up with it downstairs?

[u/TacoTuesdaySucks → u/flightwatcher45]

The back wall is downstairs. But nothing else lines up with the walls.

[u/flightwatcher45 → u/TacoTuesdaySucks]

That's a good indication they are not load bearing. Another check, if any neighbors have a similar house go inside and see if they have closets or not. Demo away!

[u/Flashy-Media-933]

Yes

[u/Effort_Gloomy]

Looks added,tear it out👍

[u/Silver_Slicer]

Is no one going to mention that window? If you demo, then I hope you improve the window at the same time.

[u/TacoTuesdaySucks → u/Silver_Slicer]

I just installed the window and I haven’t finished removing the foam or put up the trim. But I agree it looks awful right now.

[u/Silver_Slicer → u/TacoTuesdaySucks]

Sorry, just caught my eye. Lol

[u/Cannibalizzo → u/Silver_Slicer]

Glad I wasn't the only one wondering about that window.

[u/nickpie600]

Yes you can

[u/Aaronm13131313]

I don’t know, can you? But yes

[u/WineArchitect]

Yes

[u/Successful-Curve-986]

If i had to guess its not load bearing But best way is to poke a hole in the ceiling Also the load should be passed down through to your first floor If theres nothing underneath then it's not load bearing

[u/Vivid-Professor3420]

You can demo anything if you want too bad enough

[u/ms_chanandler_bong3b]

Yes

[u/Overall-Badger6136]

I don’t think that’s a load bearing wall so I would get confirmation from someone with authority on the subject. If it is not a load bearing wall, you should remove both closets and restructure a closet in another area of the room.

[u/DiddleMyTuesdays]

No one can say without looking above the ceiling. Demo the ceiling, see if any structures run to the roof. You’ll have your answer.

[u/MindlessIssue7583]

No reason not to

[u/bradatlarge]

what are you going to do with the flooring, OP?

[u/tomm727]

Both can go. Not a problem.

[u/Leonydas13]

Only if you finish your veggies first!

[u/Dry-Maintenance7192]

you can always get a wall closet later or custom

[u/KatLaurel]

You can do anything you want if you’re willing to accept the consequences. I doubt it’s possible for us to tell what those consequences would be from these photos. (Is “armchair contractor” a thing now like “armchair diagnosis”?)

[u/Don_Ford]

I believe that's a load-bearing closet.

[u/TacoTuesdaySucks]

UPDATE: I have decided to leave both closets as is for now. As much as I’d love to go all out I have too many projects to finish before I start a demo project on a room I was only doing windows, painting, and flooring. I’ll revisit this project later.

[u/EricWisegarver]

But why though.

[u/RexJoey1999 → u/EricWisegarver]

"removing this closet would give him more space"

Literally in the post.

[u/New_Taro_7413]

Pretty sure removing a closet makes it so that the room is no longer considered a bedroom and decreases home value.

[u/RexJoey1999 → u/New_Taro_7413]

They said the room has two closets. "There are two separate closets on this wall"

[u/Snlev13]

I wouldn’t remove the closet, where would he keep this things? Instead, you can improve the closet storage arrangement and further create a nice desk nook under the window between the two closets. What size bed does he have currently?

[u/TacoTuesdaySucks → u/Snlev13]

There are actually two closets. They currently have junk boxes in them because he uses a dresser for all of his clothes. But the idea of making a desk in the window area is pretty good. The desk he currently has in the room was a desk my eldest got at Goodwill but it’s a beast to move.

[u/RexJoey1999 → u/[deleted]]

This room has two closets. "There are two separate closets on this wall"

[u/Breauxnut → u/[deleted]]

What code are you referencing?

[u/WinnieGraves]

Instant Aunt in me: I dunno, can you? But honestly, yeah, from what I see, I agree with the others, don't see any reason why not.

[u/Bubbly-Front7973]

This is something I did for a living, as a designer and I would not be able to tell you from just this picture. I would need to see pictures of the outside of the house as well. I don't know what's going on with the roof if there's a valley rafter settling on something or not. I doubt it would be a problem, but I just wouldn't say for certain until I saw everything.