When you’re doing a substantial remodeling on your home, you might run into a situation where you have a wall that you simply must get rid of in order to achieve the layout you envision. Many people assume that walls are too important to just get rid of, but this simply isn’t the case. Yes, you have to approach wall removal with the utmost caution, but most of them can be removed without causing problems. Here’s how to do it.


Step 1: The first things you need to do are 1) determine if it is a load-bearing wall, and 2) find out if there are any pipes or wires running through it. If the answer to either of these questions is yes, then the process is going to be a bit more complicated. You may need an electrician or plumber to reroute the wires or pipes, and you may need to consult a specialist to find out how to provide proper support to your home without the wall in place. If the wall is not load-bearing and has no wires or pipes, continue with these steps.

Step 2: Clear everything out from the rooms on both sides of the wall, and close off the rooms by hanging sheets of plastic in the entryways. Also put some drop clothes down to completely cover the floors, and shut off power to both rooms.

Step 3: Start with the moldings and baseboards along the floors and ceilings. Pry them away with a solid metal bar and discard them. Then, use a large hammer or saw to remove all the drywall, starting in between the studs. If you’re going to have outside contractors come in to reroute wiring or plumbing, this is the stage to do so.

Step 4: Use your saw to cut through the studs a few inches above the ground and below the ceiling. Pull out the middle sections of the studs, and then use your hammer to knock out the short pieces from the floor and ceiling. You may be able to simply pull them out. If not, you may have to simply use your saw to cut them flush with the base of the floor and ceiling, and then redo those sections with new flooring and drywall.