Breaking down walls-- how extensive/expensive?

We saw another house, that was built in 1961, and as any other house hunters know-- old houses are not made for modern living.

We are thinking of opening up the kitchen, and breaking down the wall that separates the LR and DR to make it one big open space.

This means some demo in the kitchen and knocking down a wall entirely, and finishing.

Is this majorly expensive?

Re: Breaking down walls-- how extensive/expensive?

Depends. If it's not load bearing, all it costs is a 6-pack of beer and a couple of DH's friends....

If it's load-bearing, you'll need to get a header, and possibly support posts in the basement to carry the load.

Load-bearing walls typically go perpendicular to the joists.

Re: Breaking down walls-- how extensive/expensive?

well, we assume they won't be load bearing-- otherwise, I know it's more of a headache.

Then you just have to re-sheetrock and paint right?

I can't imagine this wall would be load bearing.

Re: Breaking down walls-- how extensive/expensive?

you would be surprised what is load bearing, but its one thing your engineer can inform you right away. But if not, its really easy demo, knock out everything, clean up and then sheetrock/spackle and paint. We knocked out two doorways and it was rather easy to do.

Re: Breaking down walls-- how extensive/expensive?

also there can be pipes running through the walls that need to be moved

we have a high ranch built in the 60s and we took down the walls around the kitchen. the walls were not weight bearing but we had to move a pipe so that cost more

but just removing walls can look weird if the ceilings are low - we did a double vault to give height and openness together plus room for ductwork

Re: Breaking down walls-- how extensive/expensive?

We just knocked down the wall between our living room and dining room (well the majority of it). It was load bearing. My husband is a carpenter and he had to but build a header and until he did we had this big wood contraption which temporarily held up the ceiling.

Also other things to think about are if there is electric or pipes or heating running through the walls you want to knock down. That will add to the expenses of removing the walls because you have to move those.