Ripping out a stud wall drop ceiling

marymac27

Hello all, I’m in the middle renovating my flat and would love some advise on this situation (photo). I want to take out that drop ceiling and the attached stud wall to the left. Kitchen will then be moved across the room. Just wondering if the taking down is a job that can be done DIY or do I need a professional? There’s quite a few sockets and cables running through the wall. The other side is just the main hallway. I’m keen to get going but don’t wanna start something I can’t finish. Any thoughts would be hugely appreciated! Thanks! 👍👍👍

floppydisk1

It's doable ( for a competent DYI person with reasonable experience )  but and it's a full flavour BUT - if you  have never done any plastering or have no clue about electrics  - you will not finish it. In order to keep cost down, you can remove stud wall and plasterboard it yourself , then I'd advise you to get a builder in to do the job. Always easier  than trying to get a tradesman to rectify a bodged job after someone had a go at and failed.

Le_Kirk

There must be a reason for the drop ceiling - a steel perhaps that runs from the back wall to the wall near the door - and although you might manage to introduce new sockets (which would have to be tested/signed off by an electrician) what about drainage?

FreeBear

Flat - Leasehold ?

Does your leasehold allow for the proposed changes, if not, do you have the freeholder's consent ?

Mutton_Geoff

Le_Kirk said:

There must be a reason for the drop ceiling - a steel perhaps that runs from the back wall to the wall near the door - and although you might manage to introduce new sockets (which would have to be tested/signed off by an electrician) what about drainage?

Exactly my thought. Is that a staircase behind the door, is there a return onto a landing above the lowered ceiling? There will be a very good reason why it's there, it doesn't look like a decorative feature more like boxing in staircase risers etc.

marymac27

Sorry for the delay here! Thanks for all your comments. 

There’s no staircase behind the door, it’s all one level (ground floor flat). I was just planning on doing the take down and then getting in plaster, electrician and joiner to finish which have budget for. 

Re the ceiling....I don’t know what’s above actually (upstairs flat) but I’ll investigate and see what’s hiding. I was thinking it was more of an 80s design feature as the ceilings are very high but thanks for heads up! 

Thanks all!

fiona 

Mutton_Geoff

Before you take it down, cut a fist size hole in the plasterboard with a padsaw and have a look inside. It will be cheaper to make good in the event it can't all be ripped out.

markin

Post more photos once you have all the plaster off.