Tearing down part of a wall....?

Question

I would like to tear down part of the wall in my home between the living room and kitchen. Right now there are beams on either side and an annoying half wall in between that serves no purpose. What would I use? A sledgehammer? How about to smooth out the edges after, as part of it will end up staying? Any tips? Thanks!

The actual beams will stay, I'm going to put a breakfast table there.... its what will be underneath the breakfast table I want removed so that your feet have room to dance!

Answer 1

Consider something more gentle than a Sledge, such as a sawzall. In your detail you claim you'll leave the studs, and without us knowing if they are load bearing; obviously the half wall isn't.

Smoothing: probably a few options. Collar them in drywall/ plywood/luan/ etc. and paint or finish then to match other walls or paint colors. It would also give them a more substantial look.

Certainly as one answer suggests; Electrical issues. IF they exist; have to be dealt with.

Without knowing the span of the entire wall, or how you define BEAMS; I'd want to know if ANY are load bearing before I took a Wrecking ball to the job. If that happens to be a load bearing span with a lintel over the half wall; you might have a few BEAMS 16 inch on center to deal with.

Steven Wolf

Answer 2

Sledge hammer is pretty effective. Keep in mind there could be electrical wires in the wall. To finish the edges use molding or sheetrock and joint compound. I taking it that you only plan to remove the half wall not the supports.
Why are you dancing on the breakfast table?LOL that's nutty

Answer 3

saw down vertically first as there is a joining 2x4 from one side to the other. Or better yet break off the drywall or plaster so you can see how it is constructed And it there is any electrical in there.

Answer 4

you better make sure that those beams aren't there to hold up your house