In 2026, removing a load-bearing wall in a Redmond split-level home requires a residential building permit, structural engineering stamps, and a full plan review by the City of Redmond Development Services. The structural work involves redirecting the house’s weight through newly installed glulam or steel I-beams.
The process requires identifying load paths, installing temporary shoring, and passing municipal framing inspections. Anyvision Home Remodeling manages this entire process, ensuring that your open-concept kitchen or home addition is both structurally sound and fully code-compliant.
The Architectural Reality of 1960s–1980s Eastside Homes
The median construction year for homes in nearby Eastside neighborhoods is 1983, meaning a large share of the single-family housing stock is over 40 years old. Mid-century ramblers and split-level homes were built with highly compartmentalized floor plans that conflict with modern living standards.
In our current Redmond project, the original layout featured a cramped staircase leading to a narrow hallway, separating the kitchen from the living areas and two bedrooms. Opening this space required taking the walls down to the studs.
We gutted the adjacent bathroom — temporarily exposing the old fiberglass tub, dated insulation, and even a remnant octopus wall mural — to prepare for a completely reconfigured, open-concept floor plan. Because these center walls often carry the weight of the roof and upper floors, this level of demolition cannot be done without strict engineering oversight.
Living Through the Remodel: Can You Stay in the House?
Removing a load-bearing wall is a massive structural undertaking that generates significant dust, noise, and vibration. While some homeowners attempt to live through minor cosmetic updates, taking center walls down to the studs — especially in primary living areas — creates severe disruptions.
During the process, the home will likely be without a functioning kitchen, and critical ceiling support will be temporarily suspended by wooden shoring walls that block walkways.
For safety, strict dust control, and to avoid the stress of living inside an active construction zone, we highly recommend that families temporarily relocate during the primary demolition and structural beam installation phases.
Identifying Load Paths and Lateral Resistance
How do you know if a wall is load-bearing?
There is no single visual trick to determine if a wall is structural; you must verify the joist direction, foundation lines, and roof framing. A wall can also provide crucial lateral resistance against wind and seismic activity even if it does not carry a massive gravity load.
During the demolition phase of our current Redmond addition, exposing the ceiling framing around the existing skylight revealed the true load paths. We identified that the walls running perpendicular to the ceiling joists were load-bearing.
Before any structural framing was removed to open up the new kitchen and bedroom access, we conducted a thorough assessment to understand exactly how the weight was being transferred down to the foundation.
Glulam vs. Steel I-Beams: What Your Project Needs
What replaces a load-bearing wall?
When a load-bearing wall is removed, the weight is redirected to a beam spanning the new opening, which is typically made of engineered lumber (glulam) or steel.
For Eastside additions and kitchen remodels, the choice depends on the span length, the required depth limits, and the architectural goals of the space. A full-span beam running the entire length of the opening creates a completely seamless ceiling, but it requires substantial structural support at the ends. If a full beam is not feasible due to budget or structural constraints, a vertical post can be strategically placed to reduce the span.
In our active site, the new framing and beams are sized specifically to carry the added weight of the second-story addition above the newly expanded bedrooms.
Cost comparisons: glulam vs. steel
When evaluating materials for your structural beam, cost is a major differentiator. Engineered lumber, or glulam, is generally the most cost-effective solution for both material and labor. It is easier to transport, cut, and maneuver into place using standard framing methods.
Steel beams are considerably more expensive and require specialized heavy lifting equipment or cranes to maneuver inside the house. Steel often requires custom fabrication, on-site welding, and specialized bolt connections to properly tie into the wood framing. However, if your architectural design demands a massive, uninterrupted span across a large open-concept room, the extra investment in a steel beam may be the only way to safely carry the load without adding a visually disruptive vertical post in the middle of your new space.
| Consideration | Glulam | Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Relative cost | Lower for both material and labor | Considerably higher |
| Installation | Standard framing methods | Heavy lifting equipment or a crane |
| Fabrication | Cut on site | Often custom fabricated, welded, bolted to wood framing |
| Best suited to | Most residential openings | Long uninterrupted spans where a post is unacceptable |
The City of Redmond Permitting Process for Structural Changes
Do you need a permit to remove a wall in Redmond?
Yes. While minor cosmetic work like painting or cabinet refacing bypasses municipal oversight, any structural modification or alteration of load-bearing walls requires a full residential building permit from City of Redmond Development Services.
Homeowners should expect the permit process to include a thorough plan review. The City of Redmond calculates building permit fees based on the total valuation of the project, and the structure includes a base building permit fee, a plan review fee charged as a percentage of that permit fee, and a technology surcharge. Fee schedules are revised periodically, so confirm the current figures for your valuation with Redmond Development Services before budgeting.
Anyvision handles the creation of the structural plans and the entire submittal process to prevent costly delays.
Project timelines
In Redmond, permit application intake typically takes 3 to 5 days, and the initial submission review generally spans 21 to 28 days. If your project qualifies, expedited review options may be available. Once permits are issued and we break ground, the physical demolition, temporary shoring installation, and permanent beam placement usually take about one to two weeks, depending on the complexity of the load paths and whether foundation modifications are necessary beneath the floor system.
Temporary Shoring and Safety Protocols
How do you safely remove a load-bearing wall?
Before the existing load-bearing wall is removed, temporary shoring must be erected to carry the weight of the structure above.
In the field documentation from our current project, you can see the temporary stud walls we constructed adjacent to the original framing. These temporary supports hold the ceiling joists and the skylight framing firmly in place while we cut away the old studs and maneuver the permanent beam into its final position.
Only after the new beam is fully secured and the load path is re-established do we remove the temporary shoring, leaving a safe, open space ready for new flooring and modern finishes.
- Verify the load pathJoist direction, foundation lines and roof framing are checked before anything is cut, including any lateral role the wall plays.
- Engineer and permitStructural plans are stamped and submitted to Redmond Development Services for plan review.
- Erect temporary shoringStud walls are built adjacent to the original framing to carry the ceiling while the wall comes out.
- Set the permanent beamThe glulam or steel beam is maneuvered into position and tied into the framing at both ends.
- Inspect, then strip the shoringThe temporary supports come out only after the beam is secured and framing inspection is passed.
The Full Set: Progress From the Site
Every photograph from the active 2026 Redmond split-level remodel — interior demolition, temporary shoring, and the exterior structural addition.
Ready to Open Up Your Redmond Home?
Removing a load-bearing wall is one of the most impactful structural changes you can make to your home.
It transforms compartmentalized, dated layouts into bright, modern, open spaces. If you are considering a major renovation on the Eastside, do not leave the structural integrity of your home to chance. Contact the experts at Anyvision Home Remodeling to schedule a structural consultation.
About the author
Chase Briga — Founder & CEOTechnical insights provided by Chase Briga, owner of Anyvision Home Remodeling (WA L&I License #ANYVIHR768KB). With eight years of experience navigating King County development services, Chase and the Anyvision team specialize in code-compliant, structurally complex renovations across the Eastside.
The insights above are drawn directly from an active 2026 Redmond split-level remodel featuring a kitchen expansion, two bedroom updates, and a structural addition.
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- 8709 161st Ave NE, Unit 377
Redmond, WA 98052 - Phone
- 425-515-5796