A couple in Highland, Utah, wanted to renovate their basement by opening up the stairway and landing. Although they intended to remove an entire side of the stairway wall, they hesitated when it appeared to be load-bearing. In the first photo, a 2×8 header and a sistered 2×4 beam give the impression of carrying substantial load.
However, upon ascending to the main floor and inspecting the second story (shown in the second photo), they discovered that the wall actually stopped at that level and carried no load beyond its own weight. Despite this evidence, the homeowners still sought reassurance that removing the wall wouldn’t cause structural issues.
To confirm, the father performed destructive testing—removing a section of drywall beneath the stairs to reveal the support system. The reveal showed that the stairs were held by wooden stringers—not the wall. They confirmed that the wall with the sturdy-looking header and sistered beam was functionally non-structural.
With that clarity, the father felt confident removing the wall. The mother was thrilled to envision the aesthetic possibilities for the newly opened basement entryway.
