Knocking down a non-supporting wall

Mug-o-Latte · 25 May 2004

I am planning to knock down a non supporting wall between an en-suite and main bathroom to create a large family bathroom. The floors are concrete, and the wall is solid (breeze block I believe), and skim plastered.

Any tips on doing this safely? A big sledgehammer or something a bit more controlled?

mildmanneredjanitor · 26 May 2004

How do you know it is not a supporting wall???

I'm no expert but I would have thought that a block wall would be supporting ceiling rafters.

I would suggest getting in a reputable builder before doing anything!

If you plan to get someone in to refinish the plaster and generally make good anyway, you may as well get them to do the lot.

Tradesman hate nothing more than rectifying a DIY'ers well intentioned mess!

Mug-o-Latte · 27 May 2004

Thanks for the response.

The whole house is block. There are no stud walls. Just the way it was built. I had a structural engineer come in and confirm that the wall isn't supporting so it should be okay.

IanDB · 27 May 2004

Any tips on doing this safely? A big sledgehammer or something a bit more controlled?

I'd use something a bit more delicate to start with at the top in order to save damage to the ceiling. Once you've got a gap a sledgehammer would do the job admirably - just depends how much mess you want to make.

Mug-o-Latte · 27 May 2004

Thanks Ian.

masona · 27 May 2004

Put down some thin board such as hardboard to protect the floor from breaking up from the blocks. Also cut a clean joint in the plaster of the corner of the wall with hammer & cold chisel to protect the plaster on the side. Don't do too much, take your time and remove 1 blocks at a time if possible.

Anton · 28 May 2004

I definitely concur with masona here. I removed a brick, non-supporting wall, and belive me, it's best to take a bit more time and remove it block by block. Start belting it with a sledgey, and you'll have windows getting cracked and what have you.
It should be even easier with block. As for your ceiling, well you won't do much damage there, but you'll have to cut it back both sides anyway and patch with new when the jobs done.

IanDB · 28 May 2004

Fair comment. But there's belting and there's belting. If the wall has been built properly it might take a fair bit before it starts to break. A sledge hammer is heavier and will make life a bit easier.

I took down a non-supporting wall in my last house that had been constructed of some type of concrete (many years old). I tried the surgical stuff at first but in the end it two of us swinging a sledge to get it down. I didn't break the window!

Common sense should prevail.

Mug-o-Latte · 1 Jul 2004

Folks,

Thanks for all the advice. One wall now knocked down using a chisel to cut the plaster around the edge then a small handled mallet/sledgehammer with a mixture of gentle tapping and then belting once a few layers were gone. I now have a big bathroom instead of two small bathrooms.

Cheers,
MOL.

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Knocking down a non-supporting wall

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