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What Do I... Need to Know Before Knocking Down Walls in My Home?
Who hasn't fantasised about knocking down the odd wall to improve their home's layout? Here's what to consider first
In this practical series, we ask experts to answer your burning home and design questions. Here, Mark Menegatti, owner of MRM Landscaping, MRM Constructions and a Bostik ambassador, gives the lowdown on how to safely remove walls to enhance your home’s flow, floor plan and functionality.
What do I need to know before I knock down a wall?
- Is the wall structural and load-bearing? If so, you will need engineering plans and permits, and a qualified building surveyor to sign off on works before removing the wall.
- Does the wall contain asbestos? Any house or apartment built or renovated before 1990 could have asbestos. Before knocking down any walls, have your home inspected by a licensed asbestos professional.
- Do any services including water, electricity, gas or ducting pipes run through the wall? If so, where exactly are they?
How do I investigate it myself?
First, turn off all power to ensure you are safe. Then, cut a small hole in the plaster and check for wires and pipes. Next, climb into the roof if you can, and look for roof beams and trusses. Also, try to check under the house for services that may enter the stud wall. If the house is constructed on a concrete slab, most services will enter from the roof and minimal services will be supplied through the slab.
If you’re in doubt, contact a licensed builder. This isn’t a job you should undertake without some knowledge and skill level.
Tip: You’ll need strata permission before removing any walls if you live in an apartment building, even if you are the owner.
First, turn off all power to ensure you are safe. Then, cut a small hole in the plaster and check for wires and pipes. Next, climb into the roof if you can, and look for roof beams and trusses. Also, try to check under the house for services that may enter the stud wall. If the house is constructed on a concrete slab, most services will enter from the roof and minimal services will be supplied through the slab.
If you’re in doubt, contact a licensed builder. This isn’t a job you should undertake without some knowledge and skill level.
Tip: You’ll need strata permission before removing any walls if you live in an apartment building, even if you are the owner.
Can I knock down a wall myself?
If the wall is not structural or load-bearing, there are no services running through it, and you feel confident in your DIY abilities, there’s nothing to stop you knocking down the wall yourself.
If, however, you have little or no skills or experience in this area, or if the wall is structural, you should engage a licensed builder to knock it down for you. A licensed builder should hold all the necessary insurances (public liability, home warranty and builder’s insurance) to cover you as the homeowner, him or herself as the builder, and any other trades engaged to assist with the project.
Tip: Before going ahead and removing a wall, consider how you’ll finish your flooring and ceiling where the wall once stood.
If the wall is not structural or load-bearing, there are no services running through it, and you feel confident in your DIY abilities, there’s nothing to stop you knocking down the wall yourself.
If, however, you have little or no skills or experience in this area, or if the wall is structural, you should engage a licensed builder to knock it down for you. A licensed builder should hold all the necessary insurances (public liability, home warranty and builder’s insurance) to cover you as the homeowner, him or herself as the builder, and any other trades engaged to assist with the project.
Tip: Before going ahead and removing a wall, consider how you’ll finish your flooring and ceiling where the wall once stood.
What tools do I need?
- Drill
- Reciprocating saw
- Sledgehammer
- Drop sheet
- Protective equipment
- Jimmy bar/crowbar
- Skip to remove waste
- Acrow props for temporary support.
What else can make a big difference?
If knocking down a wall is not an option, there are other fixes that can give your home an open-plan feel.
Replacing a single exterior door with a set of french doors or bi-fold doors can transform a space and open it up to a garden or alfresco area. This creates that outdoor-indoor lifestyle that is popular in Australia. If wide-opening doors are not possible, consider installing a servery window with a ledge instead.
If knocking down a wall is not an option, there are other fixes that can give your home an open-plan feel.
Replacing a single exterior door with a set of french doors or bi-fold doors can transform a space and open it up to a garden or alfresco area. This creates that outdoor-indoor lifestyle that is popular in Australia. If wide-opening doors are not possible, consider installing a servery window with a ledge instead.
Tell us
Have you knocked down a wall and opened up your floor plan? Tell us how you went about it in the Comments below, like this story, save it for future reference and join the conversation.
More
Thinking of renovating your home? Contact a local builder and have a chat about your plans
Have you knocked down a wall and opened up your floor plan? Tell us how you went about it in the Comments below, like this story, save it for future reference and join the conversation.
More
Thinking of renovating your home? Contact a local builder and have a chat about your plans
Knocking down walls will create a more open floor plan and improve the flow of your home. It will make the space feel larger and allow people to remain connected when they’re in different parts of the home. The person cooking in the kitchen, for example, will be able to see the kids playing in the living room or doing their homework at the dining table.