Can i demolish a wall to a stairway? How do it do it myself?
Question:the wall of the satirway is the same wall to the dining room and i would like to make it an open stairway. How would i go about without hiring professionals?
Answers:
It may be a weight bearing wall, being next to a stairway, and that is not amateur job. If you want to study some, get "Modern Carpentry" by Willis Wagner, Goodheart-Wilcox Pub, and it will show you how to do everything in a home, about $30.
Or your library.
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The wall most probably supports one side of the stairway, Therefore you would have to re-do the stairway to make it free standing. Even the most experienced trim carpenters can have trouble with stairs. I recommend hiring a skilled carpenter, not the guy standing in front of Home Depot.
If you attempt this yourself, be prepared to go without access to the upstairs for some time, this will be a complicated, tedious project.
as long as it is not a load bearing wall you should be able to remove the sheet rock ( hammer and pry bar work well) then tear out the studs. If it is a load bearing wall Hire a Contractor so your house doesn't fall down. .
I seriously advise u don't do it yourself as u are clearly un qualified.The fact is that wall may be supporting the stairway and if u remove it will cause weight to start moving the staircase and cause cracks on your walls.If the wall is bearing the load then u will have to install additional support like wooden braises or posts.U should always consult a structural engineer b4 altering your homes structure.If it does all go wrong your mortgage lender may withdraw from your contract as your home will be unsaleable
first your need to know if it is a supporting wall.If it is a supporting wall you will need to get some acros witch are basicaly large steel supports with strong boys on the top that will go in the wall to stop the lot coming down on you.You will also need to but a large steal reinforcing gurder also known as a R.S.J This will need to sit on pad stones oneach side of the gap to support the wall.If its not a supporting wall it will be a lot easier but it is hard work and very dusty.Mark each side of the wall were you want to take out use a spirit level to make sure it is straight and cut with a disc cutter to get a nice straight line.You will also need lump hammers and a large metal chisle.Start at the top and work down ,when you get a bit lower it may be easier to use a sleg hammer.After this is completed you will then have some plastering to do witch is a skilled job and not really recomened for a first time as it will look very unproffessional. this will make a lot of mess lots of dust sheets will be needed or your be dusting for weeks.also needed a skip or a truck to take rubbish away a wheel barrow and some buckets.If your not sure get advice may even need a structural engineer or just a good friend thats a builder to check it out because you could do a lot of damage or even put yourself at serious risk of injurey
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