In general, removing a wall may affect the structural integrity of the building, and it may also impact the shared spaces and common areas of the building. Therefore, it is essential to obtain approval before proceeding with any type of renovation work.
Making any alterations to the outer wall of your apartment is strictly prohibited. The removal of the outer wall of your flat is not permitted under any circumstances. In order to make any changes that involve the outer wall, you must obtain the consent of the municipal corporation.
You do not require permissions for refurbishing your house which is floor repairs, walls paints etc. But for removing a wall you will require a permission. And once it is granted they will never trouble you. Or else they would send you notice for getting the flat back to it's original plan or they would break it.
Just climb up into the ceiling and look at that section of top plate. If there are any vertical (or nearly vertical but not horizontal) timbers that are on top of that section of wall, then it is load bearing.
If a wall is load-bearing, it doesn't mean it can't be at least partly removed. However, you'll want to consult a professional rather than attempting it yourself. You don't usually need planning permission to remove internal walls, but you'll likely need buildings regulations approval to alter a structural wall.
In real estate terminology, a party wall is a shared wall that separates two rented or owned units. Party walls are most commonly found in apartments, condominiums, hotels, and office complexes, where different tenants share a common structure.
But beware: either you or the builder can do this, but it's advisable to appoint a structural engineer to assess the property and determine whether the wall is a load bearing or not, and advise you on how to remove the wall in terms of the structural integrity of your property.
Load bearing walls often provide support to floors. Removing a load bearing wall without considering the impact on the floor joists can weaken the load-bearing capacity of the floors above. This can lead to excessive deflection, sinking floors, or even structural failure.
Consult with a home inspector if you have any uncertainty over whether a wall is load bearing or not.
Any Wall Can Be Removed If Done Correctly
However, load-bearing walls can be removed if done so correctly. The key is to make sure you maintain the support the wall was providing. Often this can be accomplished by replacing the wall with support beams.
Interior wall demolition cost
Knocking down nonbearing interior walls costs an average of $0.30 to $6.40 per square foot, totaling about $1200 - $5000. Homeowners expect to pay approximately $2500 to demolish a 120 sq. ft loadbearing plaster wall (with little or no utility lines).
The size of the job can affect the overall cost as the bigger the job, the more you can expect to pay for the work. If you want to knock down a wall to create more open space, this can cost around £1500-£2000 whereas to knock through a single doorway, you can expect to pay away £1000-£1500.
Can you knock down internal walls in an apartment? / Can you change the layout of an apartment? Non-structural works in an apartment are generally allowed as long as it doesn't encompass intensifying the apartment's use e.g. building on an additional bedroom.
While planning permission might not be required for knocking down an internal wall, you'll likely need building control approval. Building control ensures that the work complies with safety and structural standards.
Before breaking walls, it is important to Identify if the internal wall supports. Most new residential projects, especially the luxurious 4 Bhk Flats in South Mumbai, are built for customization, and it becomes an effortless process to work on the technical aspect of the renovation.
One of the easiest methods for how to tell if a wall is load-bearing is to look at the direction of the ceiling joists. If the ceiling joists run perpendicular (90 degrees) to the wall, the wall is load-bearing, as it's bearing the weight of the ceiling joists.
Usually, this is not a problem since the original load-bearing wall likely was built over an underlying beam or foundation structure below the floor. But in rare instances, it may be necessary to add some form of additional support under the bottoms of the jack studs.
You may need a building consent if you want to make minor structural alterations to your dwelling, such as: remove load bearing wall between kitchen and dining room. replace a load-bearing wall with beam and posts. modify internal walls which affect bracing elements.
Examples of load bearing walls can be solid masonry walls, cavity walls, and faced walls. Load bearing walls transfer the load such as weight and pressure of the structure from top levels to the foundation. Load bearing walls are perpendicular to floor joists and positioned above each other on every floor.
Do I Need a Structural Engineer to Remove a Wall? Removing a load-bearing wall requires structural engineering expertise. A structural engineer will confirm what load the wall is bearing and advise how to remove it safely with necessary reinforcements, to ensure the stability of your home, during and after removal.
Generally, if the wall in question runs parallel to the floor joists above it, it is not a load-bearing wall. If it runs perpendicular to or at a 90-degree angle to the joists, there is a good chance that it is structural.
Removing a load-bearing wall can be done, but it is a project that almost always requires professional help since it involves installing additional headers aimed at supporting the weight once carried by the wall. Very few DIYers are qualified or skilled enough to do this kind of work.
Walls are the only separation between you and your neighbors when you live in a densely-populated area, and privacy sometimes goes out the window. People hear their next-door neighbors talking, footsteps from above or even music blaring through the walls.
Drywall with metal studs is a common construction choice in modern apartments and condos. This setup involves sheets of drywall attached to a framework of metal studs. Metal studs offer several advantages: Lightweight: Easier to handle and install compared to wood studs.