i want to take a wall out in my home. Its a wall that seperates two rooms (of course), but i dont want too remove the whole wall just a space about as wide as double swing french doors. My question is ...........Is it hard to do? Do you just cut the drywall and find the studs and cut the studs and brace or do you call a contractor? I just want the passage way to create a more spacey feel and look.
2006-09-14 16:08:27 · 5 answers · asked by marylandterpnnebraska 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Decorating & Remodeling
Make sure it's not a load bearing wall. If not....give er hell. Its not hard tearing it out. the hard part is finishing it again so it looks like it belongs in the room. Good luck.
2006-09-14 16:13:59 · answer #1 · answered by lucyanddesi 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Making certain it is not a load bearing wall is the first step. What's above it? If it is not load bearing, you can take a sawzall, or any reciprocating saw, or even a circular saw and cut the drywall and studs back as far as you wish to make the opening. Clean up at the ceiling and floor where there should be additional 2" x 4" plating. Fill back in matching the floor and ceilings as close as possible. Install a new stud if one is not located where you completed removing the wallboard, etc. Install trim moldings etc.
2006-09-14 16:55:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you do decide to take the wall, make sure it is not load bearing. You can check by seeing which way the floor joists go that are below it (basement) and above it (attic). If they run overtop of the wall, chances are it is load bearing and will require more work than you probably want to do yourself if you are not experienced in construction. If the joists run parallel to the wall you want to remove than it most likely isn't load bearing.
Either way be careful and make sure you put in a header and additional studs at the sides of the opening, especially if you plan on installing doors.
If you are really inexperienced call a contractor
2006-09-14 16:50:55 · answer #3 · answered by Lauren 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
please call a structural engineer. It may be a load bearing wall'
Your entire home/house depends on this information.
Get the blue prints of your home and work from there.
good luck!
I want to do the same thing.
2006-09-14 16:19:39 · answer #4 · answered by itsmeee2006 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in california, you're supposed to call a contractor and get permits and such to do that kind of thing.
but as long as it's not holding up the house, you should be able to take a sawz-all (spelling?) to it, and basically chop your hole out.
2006-09-14 16:16:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋