Are you thinking of opening up your living space by combining two rooms into one? Wishing for an opened plan kitchen that allows you to be apart of the party while still playing host? These dreams are possible, and only require you to do one thing: tear down a wall! (or two)
It may sound quite simple, but there are some very important things that you need to check before you pick up a hammer and swing it.
Is your wall load bearing ?
As some walls in the home might be structural, meaning they’re keeping your house standing, it’s very crucial to find out if the wall you’re about to knock down is what we call “load-bearing”.
A good tip to identify a load-bearing wall – load bearings walls run perpendicular to floor joists and is often positioned at the centre of a house, and remember that exterior walls are always load-bearing !
Although you have the option to check this on your own, it’s best to consult a professional contractor to inspect your walls for you and ensure that you won’t be facing any issues once your wall is removed.
Does you wall contain and plumbing or electrical wiring?
To check if a wall contains any plumbing or electrical outlets/wiring, both sides of a wall should be checked. if it is found that the wall contains either a power outlet, or plumbing the wall should be taken down very carefully. For safety, it’s also advisable to turn off water and power when during demolition.
If there is a need to remove any pipes, we always advise expert assistance, same goes for electrical outlets, always consult a professional to ensure a safe a guaranteed wall removal.
Is a permit required ?
Rules for wall demolition and the likes differ from local council to council. An easy answers to this question is that if it’s not a structural wall then there is no need for a permit.