Ritco Group, Inc.

Do you think your kitchen is too cramped or want to merge your cooking and dining areas? A big, airy, open-plan kitchen space can be created by knocking down an interior wall. With the rise of open-concept designs, more homeowners are removing walls between their dining room and kitchen. When removing the wall between your kitchen and dining room, there are seven important things to consider before making the call to your local home improvement contractors.

7 Factors to Consider Before Knocking Down a Kitchen Wall

1. One or Multiple Stories

If you live in a one-story house, removing a kitchen wall is easier. The job would be more complicated if there’s a second or third story. Knocking down a wall can have a significant impact not only on the costs of your kitchen project but also on the structure of your home and your safety. Again, before making any major changes to your kitchen space, we recommend consulting a local home remodeler.

2. Load-Bearing Wall

The kitchen wall you intend to remove is likely connected to the foundation of your home. This is known as a load-bearing wall, and it serves to keep your home structurally sound. Taking down a load-bearing wall requires special care, so you should hire one of the best local kitchen and remodeling companies for the job. Allow us to take care of this aspect of your renovation. We will take the necessary precautions and install additional support to ensure that your home retains its structural integrity even if a structural wall is going to be removed.

3. Flooring

When removing a wall, you almost always have to patch the flooring and drywall to fill the void the old wall covered. Hardwood can be difficult to install, depending on the condition and type of existing floors as well as the direction they run. If the hardwood is not prefinished, you may be required to sand and finish a large area. The ceiling can also be difficult to deal with, especially if it necessitates scraping all of the ceilings, refinishing, sanding and painting. The surrounding walls will need to be rendered, and the entire room will need to be painted.

4. Electrical and Plumbing

Plumbing and electrical connections in your kitchen wall will likely need to be rerouted. This is why removing a load-bearing or non-load-bearing kitchen wall is more complicated than simply removing a wall. The areas around it must be altered. You’ll need the help of electricians, plumbers and remodelers since they have the tools required to complete the job and prevent accidents involving these components.

5. Privacy

If people can see into your kitchen from the street or through your neighbor’s windows, you must consider what will be visible through your windows if a kitchen wall is removed. Installing window treatments or a decorative partition to maintain privacy after the kitchen wall is removed is one option. It is important to work with an experienced remodeler when your project involves significant changes, such as demolishing a wall in the kitchen. There are DIY wall removal instructions available, but the results are unpredictable unless you have professional experience with this type of project.

6. Building Permit

Before you even consider changing the structure of your home, you must obtain all necessary permits. Interior home improvements do not usually require permits unless you live in a listed building. However, an application for building regulations must be made if you are removing an internal wall or creating a new opening.

A building control inspector will check your remodeler’s work to ensure it adheres to your structural engineer’s specifications for load-bearing structures and the building regulations for structural stability and fire safety. If your home is compliant with these rules, the inspector will issue a completion certificate. This document is crucial because it is required when selling your home.

7. Other Work and Expenses

If you decide to go ahead with this job, you should be prepared for some discomfort. Usually, there are interruptions in your heating, air conditioning or plumbing systems during this project. Request that your remodeling contractor creates a detailed schedule outlining how long each phase of the job will take.

Be sure to only pay for work and materials that have been completed correctly and to your satisfaction. Wall removal usually doesn’t require advance payments since there are no custom materials to purchase.

Finding a Structural Engineer

It’s pretty easy to find a structural engineer. The Internet is a great resource, but you should first look at your contacts. Ask friends and family who recently had work done on their homes. Ensure the credentials of their recommended contractors are valid before proceeding. The Institution of Structural Engineers’ website might also be helpful. Using their search tool, you can find registered engineers.

For major home renovations like this, it’s common for your remodeler to commission a structural engineer as part of the process. If they don’t, you’ll have to look for one. Don’t let anyone tell you that you don’t need one. Building codes are strict, and failing to present the proper plans and structural calculations will put you in a difficult position down the road. You may also void any insurance coverage you have on your property.

What if You Can’t Knock Down Your Wall?

If tearing down a wall isn’t an option, there are other ways to make your home feel more open. Replace a single exterior door with a set of French doors or bi-fold doors to open up a space to a garden or alfresco area. This results in the increasingly popular outdoor-indoor lifestyle. 

Schedule a Consultation Today!

Planning a kitchen makeover? Ritco Group, Inc. offers kitchen remodeling and roofing new construction services. We guarantee superior workmanship and excellent customer service. Call us at (931) 381-0175, or fill out our contact form to book an appointment. We serve clients in Brentwood, Columbia and Franklin, TN. We look forward to assisting you with your upcoming project. Talk to us today!