Is every new wall a structural wall?
No. A room partition and a load-bearing alteration are different jobs. The difference is not visible from the room, so the existing structure is checked before a wall is removed or an opening is cut, and where engineering is needed the drawings decide the beam and posts.
Which part of the Building Code covers house framing?
Part 9 of the Ontario Building Code, O. Reg. 163/24, covers houses and small buildings, including wood-frame construction. It sets things like stud sizes and spacing, lintels over openings and fire separations between dwelling units. A permit drawing shows how the framing meets it.
When are walls inspected before drywall?
Twice, on a permitted job in Hamilton. The city's required inspection stages put the structural inspection after all framing is done and before any insulation, with the plumbing, HVAC and electrical rough-ins finished first, then an insulation and vapour barrier inspection before drywall. Missing a stage can mean opening finished work back up.
What should be resolved before repairing drywall damage?
The cause. Explain whether a leak, plumbing work or an impact led to the damage, and whether it is still active. The finish around the repair, the paint, texture and light, decides how far the repair has to reach, so say whether repainting the whole wall is in scope.
Is commercial framing different?
Yes. Commercial interiors are framed in steel studs to rated assemblies. See commercial framing and drywall. For homes, framing and drywall usually sit inside a larger job: a basement, an addition or a kitchen with a wall moved.
| Job | What decides the scope | Before walls close |
|---|---|---|
| New partition walls | Room sizes and door locations. | Electrical, plumbing and HVAC rough-ins done. |
| Structural opening | The existing structure and the engineered beam. | The structural inspection, before insulation. |
| Basement or addition | The permit drawings. | Structural, then insulation and vapour barrier inspections. |
| Drywall repair | The cause of the damage and the surrounding finish. | The cause fixed and dried out. |