Knocking down kitchen wall and extending into disabled shower room .

Doozergirl

They would.

Are you able to lift the floorboards above that wall? I'd be tempted to look and see where the joists are running before getting someone out though.

Is there one set of joists running directly over that wall?
If so, how wide and deep are they?
And can you see what the wall is built from?

babyblade41

Thank you so much for the help. it's been invaluable. I'll get Mr BB to have a look. I don't want that room upstairs falling down as my tortoise lives there !!!

FreeBear

Losing that arch would in itself make the space look bigger, as would getting rid of the wall units. When I revamped my kitchen (3.5m x 2.4m), I opted for just base units, and the only thing on the wall is an extractor hood. Coupled with a pale yellow wall finish, the space looks so much bigger and brighter despite being north facing.

One thing to consider with internal walls, even if they don't appear to be supporting anything above - The wall might be providing lateral stability to the main external walls. This may mean you will have to leave some of the internal wall to provide buttressing and support for any RSJ.

babyblade41

FreeBear wrote: »

Losing that arch would in itself make the space look bigger, as would getting rid of the wall units. When I revamped my kitchen (3.5m x 2.4m), I opted for just base units, and the only thing on the wall is an extractor hood. Coupled with a pale yellow wall finish, the space looks so much bigger and brighter despite being north facing.

One thing to consider with internal walls, even if they don't appear to be supporting anything above - The wall might be providing lateral stability to the main external walls. This may mean you will have to leave some of the internal wall to provide buttressing and support for any RSJ.

Totally agree on the wall units..hideous but such a shame as they are so well made and so many of the blasted things . They are solid wood. Hate to just skip them but away they must go

My plan is to have the kitchen in the new end returning down each side but only where the units will meet the living room door on each end .
Once the rest of it has been cleared then I have the arduous job of removing wall to floor 1970's l tiles ..god they are awful.

Like you there will be no wall units. One thing I do have that I absolutely adore is a walk in pantry so plenty of storage and that isn't going anywhere

All the plumbing is already in what will be the new end, my washing machine is already there .

I only like splash bike tiles and after re-plastering will be painted ..no more blasted tiles

PS the arch is coming down ASAP... god peoples ideas of trendy in the 70's was a bit askew... bit like my Mum's bright orange Hygena kitchen !!!

ka7e

Advertise the old wall units on Freecycle or FB Marketplace. They'll probably find a home in someone's utility or garage! I'm struggling with kitchen hell at the moment - I have only the equivalent of 4 x 60cm units to store the contents of 10+ units from my previous house Present kitchen is roughly 3m x 3m with 3 doors opening into it. The fan is bust in the electric oven and 2 zones on an ancient ceramic hob are defunct. No room for a fridge or a dishwasher. And we can't pin down a SE as all the local ones are working for a huge construction project nearby. I can't order a kitchen until I know if an RSJ is needed and my preferred kitchens have huge lead in times. The house is being re-wired next week and they want to know where everything is going in the kitchen. Their guess is as good as mine!

babyblade41

That is nearly as bad as me then .. It sounds like we are doing everything !!!! about face but I will be refurbishing the downstairs loo shortly, then we have a decent toilet downstairs, then the bathroom upstairs which means we can de commission the downstairs shower (upstairs bath has no shower ) I can live without a bath but not the shower .

Kitchen will be last on the list this year , although I would like the ceilings to be done downstairs this year... fed up of having spiders drop on me !!!

Upstairs can wait a while , probably start on them next autumn . I have managed to clear the garden as it hadn't been touched in a couple of years apart from a creeping Mimosa , It's huge and don't want to dislodge any nesting birds so will wait until end of October

keith969

I recently (well not me personally) knocked down a wall in the kitchen that was originally forming a storecupboard about a metre wide and 3m long. Had to get a structural eng in to check the wall was loadbearing but it was well worth it - and made enough room for an island in the kitchen, which would otherwise not have been possible.

ka7e

babyblade41 - We're having the lot done in one fell swoop, figuring ceilings, wall and chimney breast coming down at the same time means only one period of (extreme) disruption. We moved in in June and haven't unpacked. Sealed boxes will go in the garage while work is carried out. All the ceilings are coming down downstairs, but I've asked my builder to plasterboard and skim the upstairs ceilings and put up new coving - he's not keen, but I can't face the upheaval on both floors at the same time. Having stores rooms and outside loo converted into a shower room and loo and then tiny bathroom and loo upstairs combined to form a decent bathroom. Utility sink put in garage. Then new flooring, curtains and decor and wardrobes. I have family coming to stay at Christmas and I would like it all done by then. Builder says it's doable but I'm not so sure!

babyblade41

Oh my, I'm too old for all that now !! our ceilings are down and all the plaster is off the wall.. chimneys are staying as they are now brick and just need re-pointing .. I have had the wood burner installed :-D

I don't want to spend over the odds as we aren't staying forever so only doing as much as needed but I have to have a decent kitchen

babyblade41

Just an update..

The wall isn't supporting anything and so can come down without hassle:j

Now normally OH does demolishing of things but as this wall has electrics and some very odd plumbing pipes we feel it's best to leave it to the pro's

Only draw back is waiting for another 6 weeks to get us fitted. in...
Just to edit.. cost is 3k which includes plastering which I'm quite happy about too