Can I take out a dividing wall to make one big room?
Related Discussions
Vinyl plank flooring vs pergo (laminate)
I currently have stinky dirty carpeting in my living room and I want to replace it with a durable flooring that can stand up to dogs and kids.
How to remove popcorn ceiling that has been painted?
Does having a paint over a popcorn ceiling change how I'd remove the popcorn ceiling?
How to apply peel and stick wallpaper?
I want to spruce up my walls with peel-and-stick wallpaper. Has anyone used this before and can advise me as to how to apply it properly?
How to stain wood floor?
I've heard staining is a good technique for updating floors. So how do I stain my wood floor?
How can I make this hidden door more hidden and less hideous?
I have a hidden door though it doesn't look so hidden at the moment and I like the appeal of a hidden door. We do need to use the door, but not often. This is in a b... See more
What to do with paneling in a dated living room?
This is my living room. I love the fireplace-flanking book shelves and the vaulted ceiling but it is a cavern. The skylight shaft doesn't let in much light, and the ... See more
you can if it is not a load bearing wall. Get a professional to take a look
Sure, but first determine if it is a "load bearing" wall to make the proper adjustments. Also check to see what utilities may be running through the wall that will need to be rerouted. Almost anything can be done, just takes careful planning, a little bit of time and and inconvenience and be ready for construction dust. Have fun!
Make sure to find out if the wall you are taking out is load bearing...check with someone who can tell you.
Yes, you definitely need to find out if its a load bearing wall. If its not you can remove it with no problem.
How to Identify a Load-Bearing Wall
Most people enjoy an open floor plan these days, but it's impossible to achieve that look in older homes without taking down a few walls. Since some of those walls might be keeping the rest of the house standing, it's important to understand how load-bearing walls work and be able to identify them.
People often ask if certain walls in their home can be torn out, and it isn't always easy to tell just by looking at them. Newer houses or those that have previously undergone structural renovation—like adding or removing rooms—are particularly difficult to decipher, so it's always a good idea to check with an architect or engineer before actually picking up a sledgehammer. (There may be permits required as well, so check with your local building authority.)
A structural wall actually carries the weight of your house, from the roof and upper floors, all the way to the foundation. Because this weight is transferred from one level of the house to the next, load-bearing walls are typically directly over one another on each floor.
Start at the Foundation
In a house that has an unfinished basement or easily accessible wall, finding the beams— typically a metal I-beam or a multi-board wood beam—is a good indication of where the weight of the house is resting. A wall directly above those beams (and any walls directly above those walls) are probably load-bearing.
Look at the Floor Joists
If you can see the floor joists, either from the basement looking up to the first floor, or from the attic looking down to the floor below, note their direction. A load-bearing wall will often be perpendicular to floor joists. If you see a wall that appears to be holding up an intersection of joists at any point, that wall is likely load-bearing as well. (Not all walls that are perpendicular to floor joists are load-bearing, and a load-bearing wall may occur at a place where there is not an intersection of joists as well, this is why it's important to look at the overall structure of the house.)
Look Above
If a wall doesn't have any walls, posts, or other supports directly above it, it's far less likely that it's load-bearing. This is also true when looking in the attic. If you have an unfinished attic, but see knee walls (walls under 3' in height that support the roof rafters) those are likely directly above a load-bearing wall as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJSsRVoy_U0
Removing a non load bearing wall:
https://www.thespruce.com/removing-full-nonload-bearing-interior-wall-1822875
Removing a load bearing wall:
https://www.thespruce.com/removing-a-load-bearing-wall-1821964
https://www.thespruce.com/replace-a-load-bearing-wall-1822008