What To Expect When Removing An Interior Wall

The great news is that nearly any wall can be removed – the question is going to be what can be expected during the removal process and exactly how much funds will it take? The basics of a wall removal process can be rumored as easy to do yourself but this is never the case. When considering removing a wall, you should always call a professional to appropriately assist in checking wiring, plumbing, and other elements that could potentially cause major damage to your special home. At Classic, we want to make the process an easy one for you so we’ve broken down what you can expect during the interior wall removal process.

What Steps Are Involved?

Assessing the wall to be removed is going to be the single most important step in the removal process. Depending on your plans for the space, you may need to completely reroute any electrical lines, gas lines, plumbing and possibly adjust air ducts. Although you might be able to get a good idea of what lies behind your walls based on the current fixtures (cover plates or pipes, for example), you won’t be 100% certain about the structure of that wall until the drywall is completely removed.

It’s definitely best to have an experience contractor assess the wall so that you can get a better idea of the next steps, which may involve additional steps beyond simply rerouting lines – you may need a new beam installed and adjustments to your foundation made to prevent damage to your home.

Load Bearing vs. Non-Load Bearing

So you’ve got the steps now what? Well now it’s time to find out if that wall is load bearing or not. This will determine if you’re ready to grab your hand-dandy sledge hammer and bang away like they do on HGTV or if you should make other arrangements to take that wall down. Non-load bearing walls are simply there to define the spaces in your home or building and do not support the structure at all. Looking at the beams in your attic or basement is the best way to find these walls, if they run parallel (or the same way as the wall) then you’re good to go! Knock that wall down!

However if the beams run directly into the concrete foundation then woah, stop right there, this is likely a load bearing wall! At this point it’s best to call a pro as there is a lot more to this than just knocking some holes, tearing down sheetrock, and removing the beams. You’re looking at major structural changes, the need of an architect, and more. Your next thought is probably what is this going to cost me?

How Much Does it Cost?

The simple answer is… it depends. You could be looking at anywhere from $300 to upwards of $10,000. In general, non-load bearing walls will be cheaper to remove than load bearing walls. Whether your home is single or has multiple stories will also affect cost. The removal of a wall may seem like a simple thing, but you also have to consider that the wall may contain electrical, plumbing, or other service lines. Your best bet is to call professionals such as Classic Construction & Restoration, Inc to get a free estimate and let them handle the project from start to finish.

Conclusion

Replacing an internal wall can seem like an easy project – on TV, it takes about 10 minutes! In reality, the surprises uncovered in the structure of the wall and sometimes even in the stability of the home itself can make what seems like a simple project a complete DIY nightmare. Our team of experts at Classic Construction have seen it all and will make every effort to make your space the place of your dreams without the headache or the surprises.