{"id":21215,"date":"2022-05-25T15:34:04","date_gmt":"2022-05-25T13:34:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.localpros.co.za\/?post_type=cost&p=21215"},"modified":"2024-02-13T18:58:34","modified_gmt":"2024-02-13T16:58:34","slug":"how-much-does-it-cost-to-knock-down-a-wall","status":"publish","type":"cost","link":"https:\/\/www.localpros.co.za\/cost\/how-much-does-it-cost-to-knock-down-a-wall\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Does it Cost to Knock Down a Wall?"},"content":{"rendered":"

How much does it cost to knock down a wall? It sounds like a simple question, but there’s more to removing a wall than just “knocking it down.”<\/p>\n

What Knocking Down a Wall Really Means<\/h2>\n

Older homes tend to be divided up into a series of small rooms. The first thing home buyers want to do when they buy these homes is knock out a wall or 2 and create a more open plan living space. Thinking, “How hard can it be?” they ask a builder for a quote and are surprised by how much it’s going to cost. No, they’re probably not overcharging them. They just know from experience what the job entails:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Before they knock down the wall, the ceiling and roof will need a temporary support structure.<\/li>\n
  2. Because it’s an internal wall, they to be careful not to damage the surrounding floors and walls.<\/li>\n
  3. After the wall comes down, a beam or other permanent support will have to be erected.<\/li>\n
  4. All the debris has to be removed and disposed of. There are skip hire and\/or disposal costs to be paid for.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Theoretically, you could knock down a wall and leave it at that, but what about the areas the wall used to cover? To finish the job, your walls will have to be repaired and repainted and you’ll have to do something about the floor. If the wall was between the kitchen and the living room, odds are you will also have to renovate your kitchen.<\/p>\n

    Of course, not all walls are support walls and you may not have to add a new kitchen to the bill, but you do have to factor everything into the cost of knocking out a wall or you will be in for some unpleasant surprises.<\/p>\n

    How Much Does Removing a Wall Cost?<\/h2>\n

    Knocking out a wall is usually not a DIY project because internal walls are structural parts of the house. If you’re just knocking out a single wall and it’s an inexpensive job, you may not need a building permit, but check with your local municipality first to be sure. If you do need a building permit, these are some of the costs you may be looking at:<\/p>\n