Cut a "pass Through Window" in Your Wall With Less Mess!

Kammy's Korner
by Kammy's Korner
5 Materials
$15
1 Day
Medium
While our renovations were taking place this summer, I, like most normal breathing women, did not want drywall dust in every nook and cranny in my house. So when we cut out this little "window" between our kitchen wall and sunroom/eating area, I had an idea on how to keep the dust to a minimal and it surprisingly worked out pretty well! Maybe some of you already know this trick, but if you don't - hope you can use it!
How about first things first though. A peek at what we STARTED with! Oh heaven help us. Yes, that is brown flowered wallpaper on the walls AND ceilings.
You can see where we took that wall and doorway down to a table height and put on a salvaged barnwood breakfast bar here: http://www.kammyskorner.com/2015/10/not-your-average-barn-wood-table-its.html
So here's the trick. While the sawzall operator is on one side cutting through the drywall, have someone else stand on the other side with a shop vac right directly under the blade. It sounds a tad dangerous but if you remain totally alert and the person on the other side isn't a psycho with power tools, it's quite easy. Pretty much all of the dust that would normally be flying all around your house and landing in your boxes of cereal gets instantly sucked up and lands in the shop vac instead. I just had to make sure to stay super close with the shop vac hose to where the blade was cutting.
Set down the shop vac and help lift out that piece of drywall - WHAT A SATISFYING FEELING! And Let that extra light shine in!
We trimmed out our window with 1x6 boards (nothing fancy because we were going for a rustic look in the sunroom) and painted it white. I love being able to stand at my stove and see into our eating area. Just that tad bit of "openness" makes a big difference!
Like that exposed brick wall you see there? It was actually a surprise - Read more about that here: http://www.kammyskorner.com/2015/09/exposing-backside-of-chimney.html
And after we cut out that "window" we got even more daring and cut out a doorway (next to those bricks you see) between the sunroom and family room. Check that project out here: http://www.kammyskorner.com/2016/01/a-daring-doorway-cut-in-wall-opening-up.html
Suggested materials:
  • Brown flowered wallpaper
  • 1x6 boards
  • Paint
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Kammy's Korner
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
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3 of 8 questions
  • Pamela Pamela on Jan 07, 2018

    What did you use for your kitchen backsplash ? I have been looking all over for something similar...

  • Tessa Tessa on Jan 07, 2018

    How do you get under the knife blade when the knife won't have cut that part of the wall yet? Am I missing something? Thank you! BTW - you did a great job!

  • Debbie Deshetler Debbie Deshetler on Jun 26, 2020

    Looks great, I hope my project goes that smoothly! I'm wanting to remove the wall in between my kitchen and living room, but it's holding up my loft!! Any advice?

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  • Linda J. Caristo Linda J. Caristo on Jan 08, 2018

    You did a really nice job...you have an eye for this ...enjoy.. love what you did...I am also a decorating nut...drives my husband nuts..but it sure is nice when it's done and looks great. L.Caristo

  • Pip Pip on Jan 29, 2019

    I did this type of mess reducer when we cut holes in the kitchen ceiling for recessed lighting. It was a bit tricky to stay on the side of the blade in the direction of the dust flow. We also removed a single cabinet and part of another on both sides of the kitchen sink for a more open feeling.

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