Someone looks up through the basement ceiling, points along a joist, and declares the wall upstairs harmless. The confidence is attractive. The evidence is incomplete.
Ask what the visible clue leaves out
A house can contain roof supports, concentrated loads, framing changes, and earlier renovations that are not obvious from one room. Toronto's interior-alteration guidance asks for structural framing and existing/proposed construction information. A demolition decision needs a fuller picture than a joist-direction rule.
Keep the investigation separate from demolition
Give the designer available drawings and a clear description of the proposed opening. Ask what concealed areas need investigation and who will make them accessible safely. Do not remove studs as an experiment to see whether anything moves. The absence of immediate movement would not validate the decision.
Before the next step
- Check the floors and roof above, not only the basement below.
- Document previous openings and alterations.
- Settle the design and required approvals before demolition.
An informed answer may still be yes. It should come from understanding the house, not from winning an argument about which way the joists point.