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We’ve been discussing wall removal a lot. And it’s important. Wall removal is a popular way to improve the appearance, functionality, and value of a building. Any building – home, business, school, you name it – we at Load Bearing Pros can help. But you need to do it right, so let’s talk about what it is and how to do it right.

You want your home or any location where you spend time to be a place to entertain, work and relax – not just for you, but for family and friends. But, it’s not a simple or easy task that can be done without proper planning, preparation, and execution. 

That’s where we come in. At Load Bearing Pros, we know that people right here in Texas deserve the best, and we pride ourselves on making sure that happens. In fact, we were the original and longest operating Load Bearing Wall Removal company in this great Lone Star State! So let’s get down to brass tacks. (Or maybe lack of). Here are some steps to follow when it comes to wall removal to ensure that you’re satisfied and comfortable at home or business at the end of the day:

Identifying Load-Bearing Walls

One of the most critical steps in wall removal is identifying whether the wall you want to remove is a load-bearing wall or a non-load-bearing wall. A load-bearing wall supports the weight of the structure, no matter what type of property. Removing it requires additional structural support and professional expertise. 

We get this question a lot – and we generally find that about 85-90% of interior walls in a residential home are load-bearing walls. In commercial spaces, or spaces that leverage roof real estate for either manufacturing or production it can be an even higher percentage. In these cases, you’re going to have far more weight at higher levels of the structure, so you want to take different steps. A non-load bearing wall does not support any load, and removing it is easier and safer. You’re more likely to see these in homes and smaller businesses.

Removing a load-bearing wall without proper precautions and procedures can cause serious damage or collapse to the building, and endanger the lives of the people who are using different areas of the building. So this is an area where we strongly recommend that you work with experts like us.

Now it’s time to plan and prepare. Planning and preparation involve:

Defining the scope of the project – This means exactly what you think you’re getting into and equally important – what you think you’ll get out of it.

What are the objectives – think about the benefits for your home or business, both long term and short term, and budget of the project.

Information, Materials and Resources – It may not be the most fun part of the process, but if you’re working with a company like Load Bearing Pros, we’ll make it efficient and easy. And you’ll most likely walk away with knowledge about other home construction and renovation projects that you never knew you needed.

Phew – we know it’s a lot. But it will help you avoid many problems and complications during and after the project, such as delays, errors, accidents, or disputes.

Pop quiz time.

Some of the critical planning and preparation steps that you need to take are:

• Draw a floor plan. It should show the layout and dimensions of the rooms and the walls, and the impact of the wall removal on the structure and the space. There are so many tools out there and we can help as well. It doesn’t need to be perfect and we can help as well, but it will probably put your mind at ease as both brainstorm and get excited about the end result.
• Get out the tape measurer. Now you’ll be able to estimate the amount of work, time, cost, and waste that the project will entail. Again, this will probably help any stress levels because sometimes you’ll have to make the tough decisions early and other times, you’ll be pleasantly surprised about the dollars that will be coming out of the wallet related to the project. We’ll help you ensure that it’s the latter.
• Choose the method of removal. Whether deconstruction or demolition, there are important considerations for each given the property. You also need to think about the tools and techniques that suit the type and condition of the wall and the materials. This will vary with every project and sometimes it’s a combination of the two. Not a problem. When in doubt, we assess and figure out what makes sense for you. 

We’re here to help. And we’ve seen a lot of common planning and preparation oversights that are easily avoidable.

The first is the function of the wall. Is it really necessary and does it have an important purpose? It may be, and we’ll advise whether it makes sense to keep it. 

Have you checked with your neighbors or other key community partners? Not necessarily for approval – although this may be the case, but also for a gut check or input.

Crossing t’s and dotting i’s when it comes to anything related to electrical or plumbing. This is definitely not something you want to be blindsided by down the line in the process of a project of this size.

Wall removal is a popular and beneficial way to improve your home or business. You’ve seen the benefits above. But as with any valuable add to a property, it’s also a challenging and risky task that requires careful planning, preparation, and execution. As we’ve learned in our time since starting Load Bearing Pros, all great successes mean the above. And we’re proud of that. 

By avoiding some of the common mistakes and following some of the tips that we discussed, and working with a team that’s passionate about making your property the best it can be, you can ensure a successful and safe wall removal project and give yourself a pat on the back at the end of the day.