Removing a non load bearing wall
Not an easy DIY task; make sure that before you start, the wall you're removing is definitely non-load bearing!
If you intend adding a door and frame in the new opening make sure you get your overall sizes of these items before crashing ahead with the work, it will be cheaper than just assuming you can find something to fit.
Do not mess about with any wiring on your own - you'll need to get a professional to help you with this.
Note:
Please give a lot of consideration to all utilities such as electrical, cable, telephone wiring and any Plumbing that may run through the walls. Your safest bet will be to hire an electrician to "cap off" the wiring and arrange any plumbing repositioning.
1. Protect your floor with old bed sheets or dust sheets and make sure the room is well ventilated.
2. Please wear your dust mask, hard hat and safety goggles before you start work, we all know its really uncomfortable but so is visiting a hospital. Prepare a large dustbin or small skip for all your rubbish.
3. Turn off your electric current if any cabling within the wall to be removed is present.
4. Get an electrician to disconnect all wires and put electrical tapes/joint blocks over the ends.
5. Cut along corners of the plaster wall to avoid nearby walls and ceilings from getting pulled off while you remove the wall being taken down.
6. Carefully remove the plaster with a hammer, use a claw hammer to pull off any of the lathe if it is a traditional wall construction.
7. Make sure a recommended and qualified electrician removes any electrical lines or boxes in the wall and reroutes the lines.
8. If you find water pipes, you can get a plumber to cut and cap them or reroute them or do this yourself.
Note:
Rerouting waste water pipes is a more complicated procedure. We recommend that you get a professional plumber in to do the job.
9. Remove any timber studs or frame work by loosening them from the bottom plate with a hammer and twist them from the top. You can also saw through and twist the top and bottom half separately, this is definitely more manageable.
10. Pry off the top and bottom timber stud plate with a crow bar or similar.
11. Remove all remaining parts of the wall with a hammer and crow bar and clean out the debris normally.
12. When you're finished, proceed with the next step of your project, plastering, decoration and door frame installation.
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