Reinstating an internal wall

NaughtiusMaximus

We've seen a house we're interested in buying, the one snag with it is it has an open plan kitchen/diner, I know this is a poplular feature with a lot of people but not us.

Could anyone give me a rough idea as to how much a tradesman would charge to put a wall back in, including an internal door? Also, the room currently has a laminate floor which will obviously have to be lifted in the vicinity of the wall first, is it possible to salvage and relay the laminate around the new wall or would we have to redo the floor too?

EDIT - the opening is approximately 3 metres wide.

Doozergirl

You can put the wall up over the existing floor. Don’t need to disturb it yet. When the laminate comes out it could be trimmed off at the wall with a multitool.

It’s not an expensive job to erect the wall. It’s a day and a half for a carpenter and a day for a plasterer. Plus materials.

About £500.

Jonesya

You can get reciprocating or circular cutters which should allow them to cut away the laminate where the wall is going.

I wouldn't build the wall over the flooring as that's a bodge, the flooring will have underlay which has more flexibility, so the wall won't be as stable, more risk of movement and plaster cracking. Better to get it removed.

Personally I'd budget more than £500 though, because of the door. You might also want to an electrician in to fit some sockets.

NaughtiusMaximus

Jonesya wrote: »

You can get reciprocating or circular cutters which should allow them to cut away the laminate where the wall is going.

I wouldn't build the wall over the flooring as that's a bodge, the flooring will have underlay which has more flexibility, so the wall won't be as stable, more risk of movement and plaster cracking. Better to get it removed.

Personally I'd budget more than £500 though, because of the door. You might also want to an electrician in to fit some sockets.

Thanks, good to know I don't need to relay the floor too. Good suggestion about the sockets, hadn't considered that but probably worth doing.

Including the electrics do you think the entire job would come in at less than £1,000?

EachPenny

Jonesya wrote: »

I wouldn't build the wall over the flooring as that's a bodge, the flooring will have underlay which has more flexibility, so the wall won't be as stable, more risk of movement and plaster cracking. Better to get it removed.

With other flooring types I'd agree with you, but disturbing laminate is just asking for trouble, so I'd agree with Doozergirl and say it would be better to build the wall on top. So long as you make sure it is securely fixed down then the small amount of residual movement between wall and floor is not likely to be a significant problem.

NaughtiusMaximus

EachPenny wrote: »

With other flooring types I'd agree with you, but disturbing laminate is just asking for trouble, so I'd agree with Doozergirl and say it would be better to build the wall on top. So long as you make sure it is securely fixed down then the small amount of residual movement between wall and floor is not likely to be a significant problem.

Would that present any problems in the future when you do eventually replace the flooring?