Removing a wall has become a popular home renovation project as homeowners increasingly prefer open floor plans and more connected spaces in their homes. A common project is removing a wall to open a kitchen to an adjoining living or dining area and create better flow throughout shared living areas. Walls are also removed to expand bedrooms and bathrooms or rearrange living space. Because of the numerous factors involved, removing a wall is usually better left to the professionals. Here are a few considerations for an interior wall removal project:
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Is the wall load bearing or not? The most important factor in wall removal is whether the wall is load bearing. A load bearing wall is a critical part of the home's structure because it supports the weight above. A load bearing wall can still be removed, but the weight it supports must be redistributed and supported in another way. Often, you can add a column or two to support the weight while still creating the open floor plan you are going for. If the wall is not load bearing, it may be removed without affecting the structure of the home.
Are there electrical wires or plumbing pipes inside the wall? If not, you are lucky and the job will be a little easier. But if there are electrical or plumbing components inside the wall to be removed, they will need to be rerouted so that your home remains functional without the wall. The need to adjust pipes and wiring is another reason that most homeowners prefer to hire a pro to remove interior walls.
What will need to be done to create a smooth transition on the adjoining floor, ceiling and walls?
When you remove a wall, the adjoining wall(s), ceiling and floor will be exposed where the wall was previously affixed. Accommodating the gaps created as a result of removing a wall is Loft conversions in an important piece of the project that should be addressed in the project plan and allowed for in the budget.
When you are breaking down a wall, you never know what surprise obstacles you will encounter that must be addressed before the project can proceed. Unless you are experienced with similar projects as well as electrical and plumbing work, hiring a professional for this type of project is advised. Even if you have the experience to tackle the job yourself, getting professional advice before you begin may be helpful.
If you have purchased a section of land and enlisted the services of a custom home designer to design your blueprints it is very important that you spend time considering the following house design points before any construction begins.
Ensure that your sections boundary pegs match up with your blueprint plans or have a surveyor do this for you to be absolutely sure. This process will help determine if the size of your floor plan will fit comfortably within the constraints of your section and boundary. This process may also highlight better use of certain land areas within your section or show that certain parts of your blueprints can be extended / altered.
Will certain areas of your house such as the deck and living room receive the best amount of sunlight in the position you have planned? When thinking about the positioning of your future home note where the sunlight will be during the day. Look around your section for potential sunlight blockers such as trees and empty neighboring sections that may have buildings erected in the future.
Are there any building covenants on the site that could affect the draw up plans of your home? Have you invested in a new subdivision that requires the developers' approval over your house plans? Does the site have restrictions in terms of building size, height and materials allowed? It is a wise idea to have your lawyer look for potential restrictive covenants before you get too far into the design process.
Find out where utilities such as electric, telephone, gas, sewer and water connections will enter your property; are they near your sections boundary or will you need to bring these services on-site? A Land Information Memorandum Report (LIM) from your local council will highlight these utilities and also make you aware of important environmental and land related information such as storm and drainage, likelihood of flooding, erosion risk, heritage and conservation classifications.
Be sure to have all your building consent forms organized and ready before starting any house construction, it is important that all your home design planning complies with your country's building code, particularly if you wish to sell your home once completed. It can be a costly and time consuming mistake for new home owners / builders if the above house design considerations are overlooked.