Removing interior walls in a 2 up - 2 down terrace?

Question

In a standard terrace, will any of the interior walls be load-bearing, or will they all be stud walls?

Would it be viable to knock through so the upstairs is one room plus bathroom?
Any idea of ballpark labour costs for it?

Answer 1

If you're interested only in removing the upstairs wall, you should be able to easily find out if it is load-bearing.
Go into the loft, lift any floor boards, and see if you can find the top of the wall.

If you can't find any trace of it, the ceiling was installed first, and the wall is just a partition.
If you can find it, you should be able to see if anything is being supported by it.

If it doesn't directly line up with a ground-floor wall, and there's no trace of a beam across the ground floor ceiling to support the wall above, then its very unlikely to be a supporting wall as it has no support itself.

I haven't a clue about costs - but if its a wood-framed partition you could remove it yourself, and just employ a plasterer to tidy up after.

However, be careful you don't severely reduce the value of the house - a two-bedroom house will always sell for more than a one-bedroom house. It might be worth asking an estate agent for a price comparison. If you have a large mortgage, you could find you reduce the price to lower than your outstanding mortgage - negative equity is never a good thing.

Answer 2

it can be done in a terrace house usually the downstairs walls hold the floors up you need to find which way the floor joists run in your ceilings just lift a floor board and look the ones the joists dont sit on are usually just particions brick not stud though as for the upstairs its not viable to turn a 2 bed into a one bed it will bring your house price down and chimney breast walls leave them alone lots of work and they are load bearin hope this helps and im a builder so i know a bit about this

Answer 3

What are the walls made of? if its just plaster board, do it yourself,you`ll save a load, at worst you will need a plasterer to patch up the ceiling and wall where original wall was. If the walls are brick theres a chance it could be a support wall but unlikely in a terrace house, get a builder who does free quotes to get an idea of pricing.

Answer 4

you will probably find that every wall in a terraced house is load bearing.
Its easy to tell, just go upstairs and tap the walls hard.
If they sound hollow they are probably plasterboard and timber

If they are solid and hard they are the brick supporting walls
and will have a load bearing wall under them (hence the name "load bearing"

if you are not sure get professional advice (no builder will charge you for an estimate)

never try to remove load bearing walls if you don't know what you are doing as DEATH is often a consequence

Answer 5

if in doubt get a proper builder to have a look, with there only been so few rooms the chance is they will not just be stud walls. even if a builder has to do the work it should'nt be to much cash as they only have to support the wall whilst they put in a steel to take the weight, then do the rest yourself

Answer 6

knocking on the walls will tell you if they are stud or solid. If you have a cellar, see whats down there. You won't have solid walls floating. Likewise get in the attic and see what everything is resting on.

if you find the internal walls are structural, you could always design an rsj frame but it will be costly.

Answer 7

Yes it can be done.

If you need to ask then DO NOT DO IT YOURSELF.

Get a builder an he'll quote you.


WOAH>>>>>>>>>>

Ignore the answer below and some of the others.

Internal walls can also be load bearing for the upper floor, first floor walls and the roof!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Plus larger rooms can increase the value!


TO ALL THE PEOPLE ANSWERING.

STOP SAYING THE WALLS ARE UNLIKELY TO BE LOAD BEARING.
YOU ARE GIVING DANGEROUS, BAD, UNQUALIFIED ADVICE>

STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

Only the Gables (left and right wall) will be load bearing, you could do it yourself but you will have to declare it if you sell on.
Go for a builder registered with the association of master builders.
Making less rooms will de-value your property

Answer 9

1

Answer 10

if you tap on the wall and it sounds hollow it's a stud wall.if it's solid brick wall add chances are a supporting wall for the living space above.don't chance it get the professionals in