Removing Interior Walls
A step-by-step guide for taking down walls without wrecking the house.
Synopsis: Some remodeling projects require the removal of an interior wall to expand a space or to improve views. But taking down a wall is not necessarily a straightforward process, as former FHB associate editor Chris Ermides shows in this article. Removing a wall is a step-by-step process that requires forethought. Among the issues to consider: Is the wall load-bearing? What types of electrical wiring run in the wall? Is there plumbing to deal with? Once those issues have been addressed, you can begin dismantling the wall piece by piece. Careful deconstruction—not demolition—will allow you to reuse materials, if possible, and will also keep you and your project safer in case you missed something during your early investigation. Want to learn more? You’ve done your homework by assessing what’s in your wall, but before you un-build it, learn how to support your structure with a brace wall and contain the inevitable dust.
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