How to knock down internal wall: How to Knock Down a Wall (with Pictures)

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Over the past decade we have seen more and more homeowners opt for open plan living. By removing walls within the home, we can turn your space into a truly spectacular living area.

If you are unsure about the viability of your plans, we will be happy to visit you onsite prior to providing you with a quote and will give you all the information you require to make the next step.

Here at SureHome we can remove load bearing or non-load bearing internal walls within your home, adding light, space and functionality to an otherwise dark and small space. By removing just one wall, your home can be completely transformed in a very short space of time.

Removing a load-bearing wall within your Dublin home need not be as daunting as it sounds. With the right expertise and guidance from highly trained engineers this can be done with minimal disruption. It is vitally important that the removal of load bearing walls is only undertaken by an expert team of tradesmen and engineers who understand the process fully and have taken all the necessary actions to ensure safety at all times. We work strictly from engineer’s drawings and recommendations, which allow us to calculate the materials needed to complete the job successfully, safely and within budgets and timeframes.

Removing a non-load bearing wall Dublin, Kildare

Removing a non-load bearing wall, whilst still a large job, can be done without as much emphasis on structural integrity. However, we will ALWAYS do a thorough check of all structures to ensure the safety of you and your family is never an issue. The removal of a non-load bearing wall within your home is a great way to bring light through the house into an area, which would normally receive little if any natural light.

We see quite a lot of customers opting for open plan living on the ground floor of their houses or apartments and have seen an increasing demand for the removal of walls between kitchen, dining and living areas. This trend looks set to stay with us for the future and we can see why, not only does the removal of internal walls open up your living area, but it also in most cases will add value to your home.

If you would like to speak to a member of our team about the removal of an internal wall within your home or workplace, please feel free to get in touch any time. We will be happy to visit you onsite and talk you through the process involved. If you are unsure whether the wall you want removed is load bearing or non-load bearing, please ask one of our experts who can clarify for you.

Please visit our special offers page where you will see our VERY special prices for open plan living and the removal of load bearing and non-load bearing walls. Prices include VAT of 13.5%.

Notes:

It is always necessary for us to call out and view the works area to establish if the wall is a structural load bearing wall or a non-load bearing dividing wall before we can confirm a quote.

Where it is established that the wall to be removed is a load bearing wall we will specify the size and type of steel beam required to be fitted and price the works accordingly .As standard we clad all steel work in fire resistant plasterboard and the box out is then finished to match the ceiling. We can when required fit the steelwork within the ceiling so that there is no visible bulkhead where the wall was removed.

After the installation we will have it signed off by an engineer to give you and any future owners of your house peace of mind in knowing that the job was done right.

How Much Does It Cost To Knock Down A Wall?

How much does it cost to knock down a wall? It sounds like a simple question, but there’s more to removing a wall than just “knocking it down.”

What Knocking Down a Wall Really Means

Older homes tend to be divided up into a series of small rooms. The first thing home buyers want to do when they buy these homes is knock out a wall or 2 and create a more open plan living space. Thinking, “How hard can it be?” they ask a builder for a quote and are surprised by how much it’s going to cost. No, they’re probably not overcharging them. They just know from experience what the job entails:

Before they knock down the wall, the ceiling and roof will need a temporary support structure.
Because it’s an internal wall, they to be careful not to damage the surrounding floors and walls.
After the wall comes down, a beam or other permanent support will have to be erected.
All the debris has to be removed and disposed of. There are skip hire and/or disposal costs to be paid for.

Theoretically, you could knock down a wall and leave it at that, but what about the areas the wall used to cover? To finish the job, your walls will have to be repaired and repainted and you’ll have to do something about the floor. If the wall was between the kitchen and the living room, odds are you will also have to renovate your kitchen.

Of course, not all walls are support walls and you may not have to add a new kitchen to the bill, but you do have to factor everything into the cost of knocking out a wall or you will be in for some unpleasant surprises.

How Much Does Removing a Wall Cost?

Knocking out a wall is usually not a DIY project because internal walls are structural parts of the house. If you’re just knocking out a single wall and it’s an inexpensive job, you may not need a building permit, but check with your local municipality first to be sure. If you do need a building permit, these are some of the costs you may be looking at:

An engineers report can cost between R2000 and R10000, depending on the complexity of the report.
A copy of your Land title usually costs between R250 and R350.
If you need to submit a plan, a licensed drafter or architect might charge R10000 or more.
A building permit costs around R7000 in most areas of South Africa.
If it’s a big job and costs R120,000 or more, your contractor may have to take out Home Warranty Insurance. This can cost up to R10000 and the cost will be passed on to you.

Once the paperwork is in order, your building contractor can go to work. Before they can start removing the wall, though, they will have to erect temporary support. After removing the wall, they will have to install a beam or other support structure to bear the load the wall was bearing.

Don’t forget these other possible costs, either:

You may need to hire an electrician to remove and replace electrical fittings.
The ceiling, walls and floor around the wall will need to be repaired or even replaced.
You may want to hire an interior designer if you want everything to be just right.

Quotes for knocking down a wall only can start at as little as R300 an hour, but a better way is to get quotes from qualified building renovators for the full job. In the end, it will probably be more cost effective than doing the renovation piecemeal, because they will have years of experience to draw on and will finish everything that has to be done quickly and efficiently.

To see more ‘price of’ guides visit the ‘Cost of homes services‘ page to see a full list.

How to break down a concrete wall yourself

Some tenants get bored with the familiar environment of their home after living in it for a long time. Most people solve this problem with cosmetic repairs, buying new furniture, or even getting by with a rearrangement. But those who decide to take the issue seriously come to the conclusion that the layout should be changed. Major residential remodeling involves moving or removing old partition walls, which means that in most cases they will need to be demolished. In this article, we will tell you how to break a concrete wall indoors. nine0003

Contents

Tool selection
Ways to break concrete walls
Breaking down the wall correctly
Video

Such repairs may only be commenced after obtaining permission from the relevant regulatory authority responsible for building code enforcement.
Also, do not forget that the dismantling of some concrete walls can have a significant impact on the reliability and strength of the load-bearing partitions of the structure, which is likely to entail serious and unpleasant consequences. That is why before starting all work, including the demolition of concrete walls, it is necessary to get advice from the appropriate specialist. nine0003

In most cases, the owners decide to dismantle the concrete wall if it becomes necessary to

combine the areas of the toilet and bathroom to create a common spacious bathroom;
creating one large room from two smaller ones;
organization of a studio apartment;
combination of kitchen and dining room.

Anyone wishing to update the layout of their housing should be aware that the dismantling of load-bearing concrete walls is a very complex process that requires qualified intervention, and in some cases it is simply impossible. You can visually distinguish the supporting structure from the rest of the walls – its thickness significantly exceeds the thickness of other partitions. nine0003

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Choosing the right tool

After you have received all the necessary documents for remodeling and dismantling the wall structure, it remains only to choose the right construction tool. In most cases, the following tools are used:

jackhammer;
Bulgarian;
perforator.

It must be remembered that the choice of tool directly affects the complexity of subsequent repairs. It also depends on the degree of clutter and dust in the home. nine0003

Important to know! It is strongly not recommended to dismantle the interior partition in one large piece. Such a structure should be disassembled in fragments, even if it is made of drywall sheets. Regardless of the material of manufacture of the wall, it is necessary to cut off small fragments from it and gradually dismantle it.

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Ways to Break Concrete Walls

There are several ways to break down a wall structure, each involving the use of a single tool. nine0003

According to many experts in the construction industry, an ordinary grinder is perfect for breaking down a wall. For such work, it is necessary to purchase and install a special disc for cutting concrete on the tool. The first step is to mark the wall structure in the form of a grid so that approximately the same squares are obtained. After that, you can proceed directly to cutting and phased demolition of the wall.

Another way is to use a jackhammer. This tool will allow you to dismantle very quickly and efficiently, but it will cause some inconvenience. In the process of work, you will encounter the problem of the formation of a large amount of dust and construction debris, so this method is suitable for those who have not yet entered the apartment or who have the opportunity to live elsewhere for some time. nine0003

You can also demolish a concrete wall with a hammer drill. For such purposes, it is necessary to choose a powerful tool, which in addition is equipped with a special nozzle (chisel). This method also involves marking, after which you need to punch holes along all lines and use a sledgehammer to knock out individual fragments of the wall. This method is great for already inhabited premises, since in the process of work there is not so much dust and debris generated as in the case of a jackhammer. nine0003

Important to know! Before starting any demolition work on the wall, it is necessary to find out the location of the communications in the wall partition and dismantle them in advance.

It is also better to take care of the removal of debris and wall fragments that form after demolition. The best option would be to purchase a certain amount of durable building bags.

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Breaking the wall the right way

We have already figured out what tools and supplies we need. Now we can talk about how to demolish a concrete wall in an apartment. nine0003

You need to start with the preparatory work, which includes

Wiring removal. To do this, turn off the electricity in the switchboard. Then dismantle the switches and sockets and insulate the ends of the wires on adjacent wall structures.
Floor protection. Ideally, it is better to dismantle the flooring and build a flooring from wooden boards. These actions are necessary to maintain the integrity of both the floor covering and the concrete base. nine0008
If there is a doorway in the wall to be demolished, this must also be removed before the main work begins. To do this, remove the door itself from the hinges, and then dismantle the door frame. For greater convenience, you can cut the vertical parts of the box in half.
After that, it is necessary to apply the markup. The side of the resulting squares should be no more than 40 centimeters in length.

As noted earlier, often the task of demolishing a wall arises when combining a bathroom with a bathroom. For more information on how to properly make such a redevelopment, read the link. We also offer for review options for partitions that can be made independently as an alternative to a concrete wall. Partitions with variable transparency – a new trend that has already appeared in Russia, details -use-smart-stekla/. nine0003

This completes the preparatory work, and you can proceed directly to the demolition of the wall.

It is better to start work from the top. The first step is to make holes along the lines. You need to drill every 3-4 centimeters. The diameter of the through holes is 1-1.2 centimeters.

Then you will need to connect the closely spaced holes by cutting through the concrete structure with a grinder. For this purpose, it is necessary to use a circle with a diamond coating. At this stage, it is best to work together. At this time, it is better for a partner to do cleaning with a construction vacuum cleaner. This process requires the use of protective equipment – gloves and goggles. nine0003

After one square is completely cut around the perimeter, you should knock it out as carefully as possible, trying to prevent it from falling. Some walls are best cut on both sides due to their thickness. Now you just need to repeat the last process and gradually demolish the entire structure.

It goes without saying that the demolition of a wall is impossible without noise and a lot of debris. If you do not have permission to carry out redevelopment, then there is a possibility that neighbors may complain about you to the supervisory authority. Its employees will most likely recognize the repair work as illegal and impose a fine on you. They may also require the restoration of the dismantled wall. After such a nuisance, it is almost impossible to obtain official permission to demolish the wall. nine0003

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Video

An alternative way to demolish a thin concrete wall without too much noise, using a crowbar and a lever.

Another video that is sure to be useful is how to properly cut an opening in a load-bearing concrete wall.

possibilities, instructions for working in stages, interior partitions, dismantling features

Some people are designers, architects and builders by profession, but most have to become them due to lack of space, financial resources or the desire to use their idea on their square meters. In many cases, redevelopment is necessary, or the option of partial demolition of the wall between the kitchen and the room. nine0003

That’s when the thought comes to your mind – don’t break the walls in the heat of the moment. Because according to the law, any redevelopment must be formalized through the BTI in order to avoid problems in the future with fines, the sale of an apartment, or even a collapse of the ceiling on your head. If all issues with documentation and redevelopment permits are resolved, you can get to work.

Which walls can be demolished and how to determine it

If you want to demolish a wall yourself, but do not know what kind of wall it is and whether it can be dismantled, then remember the golden rule: “Do not touch load-bearing walls. ” Only interior partitions are subject to dismantling and demolition. The load-bearing wall is the main wall on which reinforced concrete ceilings (slabs) are supported, usually such walls are located between blocks and apartments and, of course, these are external walls. You can visually determine the type by measuring it, or see what material it is built from. nine0003

For example, in prefabricated houses, interior partitions have a thickness of 80-100 mm, load-bearing walls 120-200 mm. The material for internal partitions are reinforced concrete or gypsum concrete panels. In houses with a brick structure, the thickness of the walls is usually measured by the width of the brick + the thickness of the seam. From this it follows that the partitions between the rooms have a thickness of 80-120 mm. Between apartments 200-250 mm, load-bearing walls 380-640 mm. In brick houses, materials for the construction of partitions can be both brick and gypsum concrete panels. nine0003

To make the measurements more accurate, it is necessary to remove the facing material (plaster, wallpaper, putty) up to the brick or to the concrete slab at the place of measurements. Monolithic buildings are the most difficult to determine – a load-bearing wall or not, because when building such a house, different technologies and design solutions are used, such as columns, pylons, beams, and unlike brick and panel houses, internal interior partitions here can exceed a thickness of 200 mm , since foam blocks are used in the construction of partitions. Therefore, if you want to dismantle in such a house, then it is better to use an architectural project to determine the type of wall. nine0003

The key to success in work is the observance of stages

When changing the layout of the apartment, the intermediate goal is dismantling. So where to start demolition? It may seem to many that there is nothing easier than destroying, but even this unpretentious work requires the right consistent approach and compliance with certain safety rules.

After de-energizing the room, it is necessary to get rid of the wiring in the partition. If in the distributor you do not know which wire to disconnect, then you will have to remove the sockets and switches. Slot a strobe under the wiring to remove this electrical cable. After removing, cut off the wire, and isolate the tail that remains. nine0008
If there is a water supply wiring on the wall planned for demolition, you need to turn off the root tap in the apartment and remove this wiring.
Trim and plinth must be removed.
It is necessary to prepare the necessary equipment (sledgehammer, hammer, chisel, grinder, nail puller, etc.).
All furniture in this room must be removed. If this is not possible, then you can tightly pack everything with construction film. Because even with the most accurate disassembly of dust, there will still be a lot. nine0002 The repair process is dusty and dirty
If the floor covering in the room is not going to be changed, it must be protected from damage after the partition has been removed. You can, for example, lay cardboard on the floor in several layers. If the floor is of no value, and you are not afraid of noise, then this is not necessary, because during the cleaning of construction debris this cardboard will interfere and cling to the shovel.
You also need to take care of your safety. Prepare gloves, dust mask and goggles. Don’t neglect your health. There are very harmful substances in the cement mortar, which turn into dust during dismantling and enter the body with every breath, and then settle in the lungs. nine0008

Demolition of interior partitions made of different materials

Any dismantling of walls must start from the top, and from the corner, never break the walls in the middle, and even more so – below. The fact is that the upper part of the wall, and especially if this wall is brick, can crumble and cover you. It is recommended to demolish partitions made of different materials as follows:

Dismantling of a brick interior wall. Initially, before the demolition of the wall, the plinths were dismantled, and now the seams between the bricks are visible. This will allow you to carefully gouge a small hole along these seams with a chisel and a hammer, and then it will not be difficult to beat the brick obliquely. You can use even a sledgehammer, even a jackhammer, but you must definitely follow the condition – from top to bottom. The fact is that if you do the opposite, then the upper part of the wall may collapse on you from shock or vibration. nine0008
Removal of reinforced concrete wall. For this work, you will need mainly a grinder and a puncher. To avoid accidents, we install a spacer between the floor and the ceiling. Next, you need to break the concrete to the reinforcement, and then cut off the reinforcement with a grinder. The demolition of a reinforced concrete wall must be done in parts so that it does not injure anyone when it falls.
Demolition of a plasterboard wall. Removing such species is the easiest. As in other cases, you need to get rid of sockets, switches and everything else. In order to find where the frame is located under the drywall, you can use a small magnet. Then we unscrew the screws and disconnect the sheets. After that, we disassemble the frame and profile guides that are attached to the walls. nine0008
Demolition of plaster partitions. What is a gypsum partition – this is a beam along the perimeter of the wall, inside the gypsum layer there is a wire 6 mm thick. As in all cases, you can get rid of such a wall with a sledgehammer. Noisy, dusty, but fast (in about 3 hours), or with a puncher and a grinder.

Features of the buildings of Khrushchev houses

A feature of such houses is the same construction scheme. Their entire structure is three longitudinal load-bearing walls, transverse for rigidity, and the walls of the stairwell are also assigned to be load-bearing. nine0003

Shared kitchen with room

So basically demolition of the non-bearing wall between the kitchen and the room should not lead to big consequences, since such houses were considered small families and were built with a very small area. Therefore, very rarely, interior partitions were load-bearing. But, just in case, as they say, it is better to measure the thickness.

In Khrushchev, when redevelopment, one must not forget about various restrictions. In legislation, they state that wet areas (bath, toilet, etc.) cannot be placed above kitchens and living areas. Such rooms can only be expanded through a corridor, closet or built-in closet. nine0003

Briefly about the main points for the dismantling of non-load-bearing walls

From the above, you can summarize, or use this instruction for the main steps for dismantling.

Decide which wall you want to remove and whether it is load bearing or not.
Documentation and permission for redevelopment is required before starting work.
Prepare the planned wall for demolition.
Prepare equipment and protective clothing.
Check out the information that is needed to carry out this work (we have given it above).