It’s tempting to go bold when you’re in the middle of renovating your home. Removing a wall between your kitchen and dining room can result in the creation of a new layout for your home interior, and you can do all kinds of things with that open space.
First things first, we recommend you hire professionals for any wall removal work.
Should you go ahead with that bold move? If you’ve pondered the thought of opening your home interior, the numerous details included in this article should help you decide if that’s the right move to make.
In this article:
- ol]:!pt-0 [&>ol]:!pb-0 [&>ul]:!pt-0 [&>ul]:!pb-0″ value=”2″>Do You Need to Remove the Wall?
- ol]:!pt-0 [&>ol]:!pb-0 [&>ul]:!pt-0 [&>ul]:!pb-0″ value=”4″>Construction and Design Considerations to Keep in Mind
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Why Do You Want to Remove a Wall?
Before we tackle any other subject in this article, we must first answer an important question. Why should consider a wall removal project?
You Want to Maximize the Space You Have
Space is at a premium for many homeowners. They may not have that much to work with inside their homes, and that can be an issue if you’re having guests over. You may also start to notice the amount of available space in your living room shrinking as your kids continue to grow.
Removing the non-load-bearing walls inside your home will free up much more space. You can keep the space open to make it easier for everyone to move around or put in some furniture to create a more comfortable area.
You Want an Open-Concept Kitchen
An increasingly more popular feature you’ll find in the homes of today is the open kitchen. Open-concept kitchens buck convention by basically creating one sprawling floor plan for relaxing, dining, and cooking. Creating an open kitchen makes a ton of sense if you’re planning to host more. A removed wall makes all of the difference when entertaining.
You Want to Feature More Natural Lighting Inside Your Home
Many homeowners prefer relying on natural lighting, and it’s easy to understand why. Natural lighting has a way of accentuating home design that is not possible with electrical fixtures.
Creating a living space where natural lighting is available throughout would be wonderful. However, that space would be difficult to create if walls are in the way. By removing those barriers, you can allow the lighting to flow better throughout your home.
You Want to Increase Your Home’s Value
Modern features, like open-concept kitchens, are more attractive to certain buyers. They may be willing to pay more if they know that they don’t need to make any additional changes to the home’s existing internal structure. You could extract great value from your initial investment by modernizing your home in that way.
It’s also easier to sell a home that already boasts in-demand futures. You may even be able to choose from multiple bids by first introducing a modern twist to your home.
Do You Need to Remove a Wall?
Now that you’ve got your reason for remodeling sorted out, we can turn our attention to some other pressing matters. Let’s try to determine if you even need to remove the wall at all.
If a lack of space is the reason why you want to remove the wall, then there’s no getting around that. The desire to create an open kitchen or make your home more appealing also necessitates the removal of those interior walls.
However, if your goal is to improve natural lighting or to change up the look of your living space, removing the wall may not be needed. Consult with a contractor or designer first before you decide to get rid of the walls and ask if they can suggest any alternatives. Contacting our professional remodeling experts will save money and help you build a new space that you love.
Safety Concerns When Removing an Interior Wall
Safety should always be your primary concern whenever you’re making a drastic design change. With that in mind, make sure you consider the factors in this section before signing off on the wall removal.
Are You Removing a Load-Bearing Wall?
Getting excited over home remodeling is a given but tempering your expectations at first would be a wise move. That’s because there’s a possibility that you cannot remove that wall you’re eyeing so easily. Load-bearing walls are tricky to work with because they are essential to maintaining your home’s structural integrity.
You can still remove them if you want to, but it will be a more complex undertaking. Eco Minded Solutions can check the wall out ahead of time and plan your remodel accordingly.
Are You Removing a Wall Coated with Lead Paint?
The dangers of lead paint are now well-known to us, and we have since moved away from using it. Still, there was a time when people used the substance widely, and there’s a non-zero chance that it’s coating the wall you want removed.
According to the EPA, homes built before 1978 are more likely to feature lead-based paint. Notably, lead paint is not that dangerous if it’s still intact. If demolition includes a wall coated with it, though, you’re probably destroying that layer and releasing the lead particles into the air. That’s when lead becomes dangerous.
Keep in mind that lead paint could still be in your home before you proceed with remodeling. You can avoid unnecessary risks by recognizing that possibility.
Are There Electrical Lines, Electrical Boxes, or Pipes Inside the Wall?
If it’s been a while since you last had a look at your home’s wiring or plumbing, you may have forgotten which spots they are running through, so don’t dismiss the possibility that they could be present along the walls leading to your kitchen. After all, you need those wires and pipes nearby to get your appliances and fixtures going.
Double-check where those wires and pipes are because you don’t want to cut off power or water to your home accidentally—reaching out for professional assistance is highly recommended.
Construction and Design Considerations to Keep in Mind
Taking out a wall between your kitchen and dining room will not affect only those two segments of your home. That action can also affect other parts of your home so prepare for the chain reaction.
How Will Removing the Wall Affect Your Flooring?
Aside from the damage to your floors, you also need to consider the possibility that the space under the wall is bare. Since they may not have altered it during construction, you will likely need to spend more money to patch up the gap you opened on the floor.
How Will Removing the Wall Affect Your Ceiling?
Concerns with maintaining a cohesive design also exist when it comes to an exposed ceiling. Hopefully, you can address that issue with your general contractor or interior architect.
Are You Sacrificing Too Much Storage Space?
One thing you may overlook while deliberating the possible removal of an interior wall is storage space. Some of those walls may pull double-duty as cabinets and storage units. Removing them means essentially getting rid of all that storage space.
The good news is that you can take out the wall while maintaining some storage space. In place of the wall, consider adding a kitchen island. As This Old House notes, kitchen islands are useful for storage, preparing food, cooking, and even dining. Keep them short or try to work them into existing structures to prevent them from becoming obstructions.
Are You Getting the Amount of Space You Want?
You probably have a new design scheme you want to implement after removing the wall. Now, are you certain you’re getting enough space to implement that scheme?
The wall you’re targeting may not be taking up as much space as you think it does. Removing it could do little in terms of creating the open environment you want. This is another reason why you should consult with a contractor before starting this kind of project. Ask your contractor to estimate how much space you’re freeing up and then decide if the wall removal is worth it.
Other Essential Considerations
Let’s now take the time to address some other important matters related to this home remodeling project. The following considerations are as important as the ones detailed above, so don’t forget about them.
Do You Need a Permit to Remove the Wall?
One might assume that you only need building permits for adding new additions or rooms, but that’s not the case. There are places where you also need them to be secure ahead of doing something, such as removing a wall. Check what the rules are in your area and work on securing that building permit if it is indeed required.
How Long Will It Take to Remove the Wall?
Removing an interior wall is not as easy as hammering it to smithereens. There’s a lot of delicate and complex work involved too.
Wall removal projects can easily take up to at least a couple of weeks, and that’s assuming that you will not need additional renovation work. If you do, don’t be surprised if this whole project takes a month or longer to complete and you may also need to temporarily move out during that time to allow the workers to remove the wall properly.
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