How to Remove Kitchen Wall to Create an Open Concept Split

If you live in an old house with an enclosed kitchen, one thing you’ll notice is that the kitchen will appear small, dark, outdated, and poorly ventilated. So, to make it attractive and functional, most homeowners prefer to do an open-concept split-level kitchen wall removal to make the kitchen look larger, better lit, well-ventilated, and more modern and updated.

During this kitchen remodeling project, contractors usually remove the shared wall between the kitchen and the living room/dining room to create an open-concept design. But, there’s a challenge. Most of the kitchen walls are load-bearing meaning removing the kitchen wall might run you into serious trouble. So, how do you deal with the load-bearing wall to create an open-concept kitchen without damaging your house?

Why Create an Open Concept Kitchen Design?

1. To Create an Open Feel

The biggest benefit of having an open-concept kitchen is to create a large space without too many walls. With an open kitchen, both the dining room and the living room are easily accessible as they’re one large room. This makes the house look bright, stylish, and more sociable.

2. Makes the House Brighter

An open kitchen looks bigger and brighter. Since there are lots of windows to count on, your kitchen will have sufficient lighting, which is good for you. Besides, opening the windows means that you’ll have better air circulation throughout the kitchen.

3. Provides Easier Access

You see, with an open-plan kitchen, there’s improved functionality. This means that you can easily access the kitchen from the dining room as there’s no wall separating the two. So, if you need something from the kitchen, it’s right there.

4. Creates Bonds

With an open-concept kitchen, you don’t have to leave your friends or family members in the dining room to attend to the kitchen. Since it’s one large room, you can easily take part in conversations while still cooking. For most parents, this type of kitchen concept allows you to cook while still monitoring your kids.

So, What Should You Consider Before Removing Kitchen Wall?

1. Is the Kitchen Wall Load Bearing?

So, are you dealing with a bearing wall or a non-load-bearing wall? And if so, is it worth removing the wall? This is the first factor you should consider before doing this type of kitchen remodel. You see, bearing walls are structural walls meaning they hold the ceiling joists or the roof above with the foundation below. Since they bear the weight of the house, you need to be very keen when removing them.

2. DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

The next thing you need to consider when planning to remove a kitchen wall is whether to do-it-yourself or hire a professional. Now, knocking down a wall isn’t hard. However, in case things go wrong in the process, something that seemed simple might end up costing you a lot of money.

For instance, your kitchen wall might be a load-bearing wall that supports the ceiling or the roof above. The wall might also have some hidden electrical wiring or plumbing lines that you’re not aware of. So, knocking the wall down without any professional knowledge can lead to serious damage to your house. Therefore, it’s advisable to hire a general contractor rather than take matters into your own hands.

3. Think About the Cost

When thinking of an open-concept split-level kitchen wall removal, you need to also think about the cost. Here, you need to consider the cost of hiring a general contractor or a licensed structural engineer to perform the job.

In addition to the cost of hiring an engineer, you need to calculate the cost of demolishing the kitchen wall and the cost of buying building materials. Depending on whether the kitchen wall is load-bearing or non-load-bearing, you’ll need to buy things like joist hangers, temporary supports while installing the beam, studs for the support beam, and any other materials such as paint or extra drywall.

How to Remove a Kitchen Wall in a Kitchen Remodeling

• Step One: Gather Your Supplies

So, before you start demolishing the wall, it’s always good to gather your tools to ensure you have everything at your disposal.

• Step Two: Examine the Wall

So, once you have everything ready, it’s time to examine the wall to check whether it’s a load-bearing or a non-load-bearing wall. In most cases, this step requires the help of a professional contractor. Now, there are various ways you can examine a wall.

First, you can climb up to the attic to check whether the joists run at an angle of 90° to the wall. If that’s the case, then it’s a load-bearing wall.

Secondly, you can check the home’s blueprint to see whether the wall in question has an ‘S’ marking, which stands for structural. If it has an S marking, then it’s a load-bearing wall.

• Step Three: Prepare the Wall for Removal

If you’re dealing with a load-bearing wall or any wall that has HVAC vents, plumbing, or electrical switches and wiring, then you need to have a professional contractor around to supervise for proper shifting of these pipes and wires to another wall.

• Step Four: Knock Down the Wall

Now, pick a utility knife and make cuts between the wall and the ceiling. Also, make a cut between the wall in question and the adjacent wall. Once you’re done, pick a sledgehammer and punch holes in the wall in a horizontal line.

Remove all the drywall using your hands. When you’re done, pick a reciprocating saw and cut the studs at the top and bottom of the wall.

• Step Five: Install the Support Beam

To install the support beam, you’ll need to start by nailing three 2x4s or 2x6s together on each end of the wall. When you’re done, install the support beam at the top. Make sure the beam is tightly positioned and that it’s resting on the 2x4s you installed. It should also hold the joists and the rafters at the top to avoid having a sagging ceiling or roof.

• Step Six: Final Touches

With everything done, it’s time to finalize the project by covering the support beam with drywall. At the same time, some members of the crew can patch the ceiling and the floor where the kitchen wall was initially positioned.

Conclusion

So, is an open-concept split-level kitchen wall removal really worth it? Well, the answer is yes. From what we’ve discussed, removing the kitchen wall will create an open space in your kitchen that will offer you more room to organize your staff, have better airflow when cooking, and enjoy more natural light when doing kitchen chores.

When it comes to hiring a professional, always go for a general contractor. This type of person has a larger crew that attacks your job and does it professionally and in a considerable amount of time.