If you're interested in removing a non-load-bearing wall, hiring a licensed general contractor or professional handyman would be a good choice. These professionals generally vary in the skills they have, so search for an individual or team experienced in safely and efficiently removing non-structural walls.
The average cost to remove a wall in your home will be around $3,000, though you may spend between $500 and $15,000, depending on a few different factors, like whether the wall you're removing is load-bearing or non-load-bearing. If it's load-bearing, it'll likely cost more.
Hiring an experienced contractor and having a professional structural engineer assess your home's structural integrity will allow you to safely remove the wall without any issues. Removing a load-bearing wall will be around $1,200 – $10,000 while removing a non-load-bearing wall is going to cost more like $300 – $1000.
You can remove a load-bearing wall, but you should never do it without consulting a professional builder or engineer. They will know how to tell if a wall is load-bearing or not.
The cost of removing a wall will vary depending on the type of wall, wall frame and whether it is structural or non-structural. Costs may range from $50 per square metre for plaster studs up to $300 per square metre for concrete block walls.
Walls that run perpendicular to the joists are load-bearing walls. Walls that are parallel to the joists rarely are, but sometimes a bearing wall will be aligned directly under a single joist. If purlin bracing is attached to the top of a wall or is supported by a wall, it's a load-bearing wall.
The cost of labor differs dramatically based on your area and the cost of living. Contractor rates range from $50 to $100 per hour depending on where you live and what your demo involves, although most projects are priced per square foot.
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.
If you're interested in removing a non-load-bearing wall, hiring a licensed general contractor or professional handyman would be a good choice. These professionals generally vary in the skills they have, so search for an individual or team experienced in safely and efficiently removing non-structural walls.
Yes, you can remove a wall yourself with some planning and the right equipment. Just be sure to take all the necessary precautions and always hire a professional if unsure how to proceed.
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.
If you are going to remove just cut and cap the wires near where they come in and salvage any components that remain. It is probably prudent to label the wires with their breaker number and anything they still connect to.
Load-bearing walls are designed as structural support for ceilings, the floor above or the roof of a house. Removing these walls weakens the house's structure which can cause cracking and movement in the structure. Prior to any demolition, ensure that the wall is assessed and certified by a structural engineer.
Removing a load-bearing wall is a significant project, and it's essential to understand the time it will take so that you can plan accordingly. The average time it takes to remove a load-bearing or Structural wall is around 1-3 days. However, that can vary depending on the complexity of the project.
Once you've determined that it doesn't serve as essential support, the actual removal of a non-load-bearing interior wall is easier than you might think. It is messy, dusty work, but it's not a difficult job, and most walls come out more cleanly than you might expect.
Tools and Equipment
Sledgehammer: For the initial impact. Electric or pneumatic hammer drill: To drill holes in the mortar for easier removal. Crowbar: For prying and removing bricks. Chisels: To chisel out mortar from around bricks.
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.
If the wall runs parallel (they run at the same angle and so will never cross) to the floor joists above it, it is probably not a load-bearing wall. If it runs perpendicular or at a 90-degree angle to the joists there is a good chance that it is a load-bearing wall. The wall crossing the joists provides support.
Interior Wall Demolition
Demolishing an interior wall will cost between $300 and $5,000, primarily depending on whether it is load-bearing or non-load-bearing, with load-bearing ones costing the most.
You can cut the nails with a reciprocating saw first along the top and bottom plates or just use a hammer (or sledge hammer) to knock the studs outwards until the bottom is released. You can then pull out the upper end of the stud and remove it.
The average commercial property demolition these days is roughly $4 to $8 per square foot. While this may seem like a reasonable price point, various other factors must also be taken into consideration when determining the cost of a demo project.
To develop a competitive demolition estimate, remember the following formula: Cost Estimate = (V x ROP x COP) + DC – SC. In this formula: DC = Direct Cost; SC = Salvage Credit; V = Volume of Material to be Demolished and Removed from the Project; COP = Cost of Production.