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Statistics show that around 1 in 4 homeowners have some kind of replacement or construction project going. This shows how many homeowners plan to make adjustments to their homes.

One type of project that homeowners may want to tackle is load-bearing wall removal. Although this is a project that is quite large and requires certain steps to be taken.

Load-bearing walls are very important in a home and must be carefully replaced. You do not want to just go around messing with load-bearing walls without a plan.

Keep reading to find out more about load-bearing wall removal and what you need to do for this project.

 

Load-Bearing Wall Removal Guide

 

If you are a homeowner or you are house flipping in Houston, you may want to remove a load-bearing wall. If this is the case, there are certain steps that you need to take.

Load-bearing walls are very important for the structure of a building and hold everything up. You cannot simply go around pulling these walls down without doing it the correct way.

Wall moving in general is quite a large project to tackle in a home. This is something that requires forethought and some knowledge when it comes to how to approach this project.

If your current project is removing a load-bearing wall, there are a few things you need to do. As long as you follow the steps, you should be able to remove a load-bearing wall without any issues.

 

Get Permits

 

Before you begin to remove a load-bearing wall, you may need to get permits. This is not always required, but you do need to look into it before starting this project.

Permitting authorities regulate different kinds of home projects you can do. Removing load-bearing walls is a project that falls under projects that may need permits.

You may need to report what you are doing and show that you will replace that wall. In some instances, you may even need an engineer’s approval before starting this project.

This is important because these types of walls are part of the overall structure of the building. It is also very likely that they contain outlets and wires that are necessary for the home.

You never want to take on a project like this before making sure you are doing it the legal way. It is better to be safe than sorry by checking to make sure you have the permits required.

 

Build Support

 

Once you are sure that you can legally remove this wall, you need to build support. This supporting wall should be similar to the structure of the original load-bearing wall.

Load-bearing wall removal before and after requires you to have a temporary support wall. This is not going to be long-term but will help to support the joists until the wall is replaced.

The support should be able to fit into the section where the wall went to support the structure. You should plan on having the support and setting it up the same day that you remove the wall.

You may be able to build this ahead of time, or you will have to build it once the wall is removed. Either way, the most important thing is that you get it set up the same day that the wall is removed.

The temporary structure will help to keep everything in place until the load-bearing wall is replaced. You do not want to leave this area as is since it is under a lot of pressure.

 

Remove the Wall

 

When you are ready to start removing the load-bearing wall, there are a few things you need to do. The first thing you should always do is shut off the power at the electrical panel.

It is also a good idea to lay down plastic sheeting to protect the rest of the house. You may also want to gear yourself with masks and goggles to protect your eyes and nose.

You will need to start by removing baseboards, vent covers, and anything else from the wall. Remove the drywall from both sides of the wall and knock out the wall studs.

You will also need to remove the plates from the floor and ceiling and any nails sticking out from the framing. Be careful when you are doing this, and watch to make sure the surrounding structure is intact.

 

Add Load Bearing Beam

 

The most important thing to do once you have removed a load-bearing wall is to add support. You will need to add permanent support that is going to help this area now that the wall is gone.

People usually do this with a load-bearing A-beam that is installed at the top of the opening. Although, there are many load-bearing wall ideas that you can use.

You can also use a structural beam or a structural beam and post to hold up this section. You should choose depending on the area of the home and how much the wall was bearing.

 

Can You Remove a Load Bearing Wall Yourself?

 

You can remove a load-bearing wall yourself, but it isn’t always recommended. Most people recommend hiring a load-bearing wall removal contractor instead.

A professional is going to have experience and know exactly what they are doing. When you choose this option, the project will be safer and will go more smoothly.

Only those with some construction experience should attempt to take on this project by themselves.

 

How to Remove a Load-Bearing Wall

 

If your home has a wall that you want to remove, you may want to know about load-bearing wall removal. This is a type of wall that you can remove, but you need to do it the correct way.

Is there a load-bearing wall that you want to be removed? Contact us today at Load Bearing Wall Pros for an estimate.