You frequently read about removing a wall to open up a room –and it sounds so simple! Sometimes it is, but you can’t wave a magic wand and make a wall disappear. Here are some questions and problems you must deal with before you tear down a wall.
Is the wall load bearing? That is, does it carry part of the weight of the house? All exterior walls –and usually interior walls- that run per-ventricular to the ceiling and floor joist are load bearing. Removing a load-bearing wall is not impossible, but it is a job for a professional. And if there are wires, pipes or heating ducts in the wall, whether it’s bearing or nonbearing, you’re likely to need professional help to remove the wall and reroute the wires or pipes.
Attic Conversions
The desire for space compels many home owners to cast hopeful eyes upward –toward unused space in the attic. But before you become too involved in daydreams of converting your attic to living space, consider to difficulties you’ll have to overcome if your attic was not built with expansion in mind.
Does the attic have enough headroom? Code requirement for ceiling height in a habitable room (living area as opposed to workshop or storeroom) is 7-1/2 feet over at least half of the useable floor area. You’ll need adequate headroom at the top of the staircase, too. An architect or contractor may be able to suggest practical solutions if your attic is too low.
Can the structure bear the extra weight? Consult an architect or contractor to the certain the foundation, bearing walls, an existing attic floor joists can support added weight.
What about flooring? The attic “floor” may be nothing but bare joists and the lower story’s ceiling. In that case, you’ll have to lay a subfloor before putting down flooring or carpeting.