Dear sir, Iam a very disabled person. I have a question and I can't get even close to what I need to know useing the net! I need to build a retaining wall( Block is th cheapest?)and then I want to attach it to the house with a deck nailed to the wall. The deck joists attached to the house foundation buy pouring a footing and j bolting a timber on top of that for the joists to attach to.Then there is an old deck above that that needs to be replaced. Eventully I would like to enclose that area, Im basicly bed bound and I need this area to be able to roll to to get outr of my dark drury Dungin.The deck would be approx. 15x22 the 22feet is inline with my home. The deck would go out approx. 15 feet from my home. The wall or top of grade is about 5 and a half feet tall in order to line up with the basement door.The wall would be approx. 4and a half feet tall and about 50 feet long. I can't seem to find anything to help show to me how to build the wall. I have limited funds but, I found a gov. agency to loan me 25 Grand.Would appreciate any help or ideas.Sincerely yours RGH Sr.

Ron,
You need to talk with some remodeling contractors. The reason you can't find what you need on the Internet is that there are many variables that are job specific to *your* home. I would also see if there are some local social agencies that assist in matchmaking in situations like this. You can't possibly be the first challenged person is your area who has needed remodeling work performed.

i am going extend my house buy breaking a Load Bearing Wall, i would like to know how to pin the wall?

Talleon,
By building a temporary bearing wall or installing a beam in place of the wall. You better get a structural engineer on your team before you get in over your head.

Hello....I am remodeling my kitchen and have to remove part of a load bearing wall. I need to span 8'. This is 2 story home with a basement. My question is...do I have to transfer the weight directly below my jack studs to the basement floor. I have a
beam that spans the entire length of the basement for the upstairs load. And will 2 (two) 2x8 be sufficient for the 8' span? Please let me know...
thanks rich

Rich,
I can't answer because you might have left out critical data. Read all of my bearing-walls columns and you will see the monsters that can be in the walls. Read about the wall between my family and breakfast rooms.

How can I tell if my wall is load bearing. I have a 2 1/2 story home with a dining room addition on side that was built same time as house. Would like to take out wall between kitchen and dining room.

Sorry.....My house is 1 1/2 story...(not 2 1/2). There is foundation running under center wall and all around outside walls, but no foundation under addition of dining room where is counnects to house.
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So is wall between kitchen & dining a bearing wall?

Debbie,
You need to read all of my columns about Bearing Walls. Then follow my advice in them, or roll the dice if you are a gambler..... :->

I was watching TV and saw the tv professionals spanning load bearing wall approx 30 ft area with "no" temporary bearing wall and after removing the existing wall put up a 4x8x30 ft header!

Were they being reckless without putting a "temporary bearing wall" on a load bearing wall?

They reason I ask is the I have a 15' area on a load bearing wall with a second story floor above it! And I don't want my second story floor to end up on top of me!!! lol

Lewis