How to knock down a wall

1. The first thing to do is to contact a fully licensed and insured builder.

2. If they are licensed to do so, a builder can ascertain whether or not the wall is load bearing. A good builder with experience in such matters should be able to conduct the knockdown project if the wall is not load-bearing and where no electrical work is involved. If the wall is load-bearing, the builder should engage the skills of a trusted structural engineer.

3. The structural engineer should inspect the house and any plans obtained from council and come up with at least one method to ensure the structural integrity of your home once the load-bearing wall has been removed. Often this process includes inserting extra studs or bracing in adjoining walls and new steel or timber support beams.

4. At this stage you should also talk to your structural engineer about:

  • Methods of maintaining structural integrity: There are often multiple ways to achieve structural integrity, depending on the level of seamlessness desired. For example, knocking down a wall and replacing it with a kitchen counter or external ceiling beam can result in less need for internal structural modification.
  • Powerpoints: If there are powerpoints in the way, or there is a chance of hitting electrical cabling during the knockdown process, an electrician will have to be called in before work starts.We can arrange this. 
  • Adjoining neighbours: If you live in a unit, apartment or have adjoining neighbours you will need to address the removal of a load-bearing wall with strata management. Often the reinforcing method will require excavation into neighbouring structures, which can make the process more difficult - if not impossible.
  • Floors and ceilings: Consider the effect that the knockdown will have on the look and structural properties of the floor and ceiling. 
  • A Certificate provided by engineer : Once the engineer has checked all the above and made the relevant structural calculations he will provide a certificate which confirms the neccessary beams to be used for proposal. Our quote is then based on this. This certificate can also be given to a body corporate or council if need be.