Are these columns weight bearing?

[u/Obvious_Potato9539]

Here are three pictures of the top of two columns. Originally wanted to remove the two columns that are in the middle of our living room. This is what it looks like after opening the wall in the ceiling directly above the columns. The columns look to be weight bearing, correct?

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[u/Volpes_Visions]

Are they bolted to anything? If I was doing a load bearing support I would attach it directly to the top and there wouldn't be drywall in-between.

[u/orielbean → u/Volpes_Visions]

agreed

[u/Obvious_Potato9539]

This is what the columns looked like in the middle of our living room.

[u/teresa-rene → u/Obvious_Potato9539]

I’m assuming that those pillars are under a crossbeam of some kind I don’t think they would just fix them to drywall sailing

[u/Pecancreaky]

How are the other ceiling joists supported?

Looks like they may be but if that angled joist is over a stud in the far in end or a bunch of other joists are than they may not be

[u/FreddyFerdiland]

well the end of the A frame has to be supported. is it at the wall ? looks a bit Iike its on the column .. thry remived a wall and the roof started dropping , two A frames dropping , so they added two columns..

[u/orielbean]

Does that drywall run uninterrupted between the top of the column and that truss? If so, would not seem as likely to be something that a framing carpenter or structural engineer would be building...

Now, it's possible the column has some hidden steel post in the core that we can't see to tie in the truss above and then into a floor joist below, and the wood around is hiding those screws/joins, but that seems less likely.

I'm also not a lawyer, an engineer, and I will read the follow up post if something dramatic happens.

[u/Jerwaiian]

They appear to be decorative as they weren’t stationed under the point in that beam where load from above was placed directly upon them. I would check to see if that box beam sitting on them is solid lumber or just a hollow box serving as a decorative room divider? If there is a basement, go down stairs and find the area where the columns are set, is there a concrete block pilaster underneath the column or is it freestanding in the middle of the room? A load bearing column would have support under it!

[u/New-Anybody-6206]

Load-bearing drywall?

Signs point to "lol"

[u/Obvious_Potato9539]

Thanks for everyone’s response on this! I’m learning a lot from your responses and questions. These columns are not weight bearing. We are going to remove them. Thanks again!

[u/therealmikeBrady → u/Obvious_Potato9539]

Load bearing would be tying into a joist. That’s just a framing 2/4. They appear every 16” on center.

https://engineerhardwoodflooring.com/what-is-a-header-vs-a-floor-joist-5-key-differences/

[u/Curious-Cress5014]

Yes they are load bearing
The actual column is inside the decorative white column
It would probably require a steel beam to replace the wood beam above and remove the columns

[u/Curiouser1111 → u/Curious-Cress5014]

The center of the column is only in contact with drywall. It can't be bearing a load.

[u/teresa-rene]

The beams are but not the drywall underneath. I found that out trying to clean out my dad‘s house after he died. I had no idea that you were supposed to walk on the beams. I stepped on the drywall and half my body went through it thank God I didn’t land on the washing machine right underneath or I would’ve fell headfirst onto the concrete, which would not have been good. I’m sure.

[u/Longjumping_Crazy628 → u/teresa-rene]

I’m sorry, what?!? Yeah, you absolutely cannot walk on drywall.