Ballpark $ to knock out supporting wall -URGENT

[elcheapo]

Hi

I would be eternally grateful for any fast reply to this message. Have removed all wall cladding on a 2.5 metre long supporting wall ready for replastering tomorrow morning. Now I can see through this wall the area looks much bigger and brighter than I anticipated. I now think maybe I would prefer this wall gone. As this would require new ceiling, new flooring etc that I can estimate myself which maybe ok but how much would it cost to have the ceiling supported, roughly? as I have totally no idea. If way too much I would proceed with tomorrows commitment to reclad the wall. If I think I can afford demolition of this wall I may get the guy to start for a new bigger room!

help and thanks in advance !!!

Also do you need council approval for this type of improvement? I checked the council website and now have a headache!

[Gaza]

IS your roof, trusses or stick timber, plus are you sure if the wall is load bearing, ie the roof is siting of the top plates of the wall frame.

[echnidna]

ask a builder for a quote its not diy stuff for a novice

[elcheapo]

No would not contemplate doing this ourselves but just needed a rough idea how much it would cost to get a builder to it. I have waited weeks of late just to get a quote from tradesman and I cannot put this on hold as it stands waiting for a quote if it will be way beyond my means. If it is feasible then I would wait for a precise quote and consider living with a see through wall for a while. We do have overseas visitors coming and I would prefer all done but they will have to come second if I think the improvement will be worth the wait.

It is feasible if a few thousand but out of the question if $4thousand plus. I really only need a ballpark because I really have no idea.

I do know the wall has brick columns under concrete directly beneath the wall and trusses above the wall. the guy doing the plastering said, you can't rid this wall easily. So a full on supporting wall I gather.

[johnc]

A mate recently knocked out a wall which needed to have a steel beam inserted into the roof to support the stick style roof. Cost about $1500 including material and would not have been an easy job. We have just finished a bathroom reno and knocked out a wall at no cost at all, simply because the roof was a truss setup and did not need supporting. Get a builder in to give an idea of the cost and work involved, your job really has to be seen to get a decent opinion.



JohnC

[elcheapo]

Thanks

I am sure it would need steel beam but if only $1500 then it would be well worth it. If they even quote $2500 it would be ok. I had visions of them rebuilding half the house for like $10000. Mind you I am not expecting a plumber to do the work:)

[Trav]

Not to rain on the party, but I had a quote for around $10k for removing a wall and adding a steel beam. The beam did need to be 7m long, but even still it sounded expensive.

Needless to say, I am getting used to having the wall where it is! :D

Trav

[namtrak]

I took ours out and replaced it with a supporting beam for about $500 all up. Post a photo for a better opinion.

Cheers

[elcheapo]

Well it is done, well almost.

Can't turn back now.

For anyone contemplating same, roof trusses will be increased on nearby walls to compensate, a huge plank of timber will be put up, so still a break in room albeit just a beam, no real quote yet but not too bad a feedback so far.

Have a lump of concrete sitting up above floor level that the piers are attached to so maybe have to raise the floor level, still so far doesn't seem the nightmare I envisaged.
Thanks so much for your responses. Great to have an outlet.

[Bella]

We are knocking out a supporting wall at the moment. The architect told us that it wasn't necessary to get council approval in our situation.

We did similar to you. We put in a big supporting timber lentil and added some new studs at either end. We now will have a step down in our roof because of the beam. But makes the room look so much bigger.

My husband is doing it himself (a carpenter) with my help :D