Removing an interior wall can be a complex and time-consuming task that involves more than simply using a sledgehammer like you see on HGTV. Load-bearing walls must be disassembled carefully while alternative support structures must be put in place in order to maintain structural integrity. It is very important to be careful when removing walls in a house.
Rerouting electrical, plumbing, and HVAC ductwork that runs through walls will likely necessitate a building permit and inspection for this work.
Determine the Wall’s Load-Bearing Capacity
Before removing a wall, one of the key considerations should be whether or not it’s load-bearing. Load-bearing walls transfer weight from roof to foundation and are essential to the structural integrity of a house – knocking one down can cause significant damage and compromise your home safety; so prior consultation with an expert should always be sought first before trying to do it on your own.
There are various easy ways to determine whether or not a wall is load-bearing. If possible, consult original blueprints (though these may become inaccurate due to modifications made after building), or observe whether floor joists run parallel with any walls; if so, that indicates it likely does not support weight and you can safely demolish them.
If the floor joists run at an angular or offset pattern, this could indicate that it is a load-bearing wall and you should consult a professional before trying to remove it yourself. A professional can create signed and sealed engineering plans detailing how best to remove and support an alternative such as a beam so you can obtain permission from your local building department for this undertaking.
Non-load-bearing walls, on the other hand, are commonly used to divide space within a home and are known as partition walls or curtain walls. While it’s usually safe to remove these partitions to accommodate an open floor plan design, to be certain joists in your attic or basement can help pinpoint whether a non-loadbearing wall exists by running an angle check – if that’s the case then that particular wall likely falls under this category.
Before embarking on any structural modification project, it is also wise to consult a structural engineer. Most building jurisdictions require permits for any modifications made to your home’s structure, including demolishing load-bearing walls. If you don’t already have one available, home remodel consultants may help assess if changes to its layout can be implemented without risking its structural integrity.
Remove the Drywall or Plaster
As part of the initial step in wall removal, taking out plaster or drywall should be the initial goal. Before beginning this task, be sure to switch off all utilities such as electricity and water, wear protective eyewear, and wear a dust mask – some older wall materials may contain asbestos or lead paint which are regulated hazardous substances which require special handling procedures and disposal practices. Once this step has been completed it’s wise to clean up any paint or debris that has come loose onto floors or other surfaces around your work space.
If your house was constructed after 1960, its walls are likely made of drywall. Older homes may still feature plaster walls. Previous homeowners could have renovated an older property by replacing some or all of its plaster walls with drywall panels.
Plaster walls consist of rock-hard plaster over wood lath strips, visible under bright lights or with the aid of a flashlight. Nails secure these lath strips to studs made from wood, rock or metal studs nailed directly to them. When knocking on a plaster wall it usually sounds hollow when struck. If it sounds harder it likely has studs as well as possible plumbing or wiring running along it.
To successfully remove plaster walls, it’s necessary to take several steps: un-stick the plaster from its lath and scrape away any leftover pieces; shovel off any loose plaster into buckets or heavy-duty trash bags for disposal; work slowly and carefully as this substance can be heavy.
Start by taking down baseboards and molding before proceeding with any plaster removal; this will make accessing and taking down drywall easier – you may use a flat bar or prying tool for this.
Drywall is an easy and cost-effective material to work with and is often considered safer for use in homes than plaster. Installation time and costs associated with plaster walls tend to be much greater; when renovating homes it’s often best to switch out plaster walls for drywall; plaster can be costly and labor-intensive while not offering as many durability or fire-resistant properties as its counterpart.
Remove the Wall’s Framing
Removing walls to open up your home’s interior is a popular remodeling project. Removing load-bearing walls without proper support structures in place should also be avoided for safety’s sake and it would be wiser to hire an experienced contractor for such work than attempt it alone.
Assuming no wiring or plumbing runs through it, the first step in taking down walls will be removing their drywall or plaster surfaces to expose their studs. While this might sound easy, if any wiring or plumbing runs through these walls they must first be relocated or terminated before taking down any walls.
Use a utility knife to cut around each stud that needs to be taken down, loosening its surrounding drywall for easier removal in chunks. Once that has been achieved, utilize a non-contact voltage tester and check each electrical box for voltage; if there are any water lines located within this wall then make use of its shutoff valve on your home’s main plumbing line to shut it off completely.
Once all wires and pipes have been removed from your wall, you can start demolishing its framing. This process will be messy and laborious: first cut away all nailed trim pieces on the edges by using your reciprocating saw with its metal-cutting blade; next, pry off the top and bottom plates of each stud using a pry bar in order to loosen any nails in each one; finally, pry away top and bottom plates using pry bars to release any nails that remain.
Once the top and bottom plates have been removed, you can begin pulling up the floor joists that run along each stud side. This step requires strength, as well as a sturdy ladder to reach the ceiling. When doing this step it is also recommended that a dust mask be worn so as to avoid breathing in any wood shavings or sawdust particles that might fall to the floor during removal.
Remove the Wall’s Interior Elements
Removing interior walls can make any home more functional and attractive; whether that means old houses with small, cozy rooms or newer homes with open floor plans. But before starting with any drastic measures, there are certain factors you need to keep in mind before beginning this endeavor.
Before beginning to remove a wall, its structural integrity must first be carefully assessed. Load-bearing walls play an integral part in keeping houses standing; removing one without taking special precautions such as installing beams can lead to the collapse of your entire building. To identify whether the wall you wish to take down is one bearing weight, look at its location relative to floor joists below and if these run perpendicularly over its length – this indicates it likely forms part of its loadbearing role.
If you plan on demolishing a load-bearing wall, the first step should be contacting a professional engineer or contractor. He or she can devise a plan to safely support its removal while making sure it’s replaced by a beam.
Even when demolishing non-load-bearing walls, it’s essential to consider the implications of moving pipes, wiring, and ductwork within them. Failure to take necessary measures for their relocation or protection could expose these components during demolition and result in expensive repairs down the line.
Once all these preparations have been made, the next step in demolition can begin: Cover vents and other fixtures with plastic to protect them from dust and debris, rent a dumpster for cleanup as the curbside collection does not accept construction debris, and begin the actual destruction with protective covering for windows (tarps are useful here) so as to not harm them during this phase.
Though removing walls may seem daunting, with proper preparation it can be done. So long as no plumbing, electrical, or HVAC ducts need moving it is an inexpensive way to create more openness in your space and make your house seem larger.
