You’ve been in your current home for sometime now, and are feeling the itch for a more open plan. You think to yourself “the wall between this eat-in kitchen and family room really is in the way, and would be so much better if it was partially opened”. With that long weekend approaching, the demolition begins just as you realize there’s a problem.
If this wall could’ve spoken to you, it would’ve explained that it’s load bearing, or perhaps has been filled with all of the drains and vent pipes from another floor, maybe it’s being used as a main wire chase for much of the electrical running floor to floor. Don’t panic . . . you’re not alone. Until these walls do take on a voice of their own, what is inside can be a mystery.
Much of that mystery can be removed by hiring a professional to examine the basement/crawlspace and attic above to explore options of load bearing and/or plumbing and electrical pathways. With a professional designer (or contractor) on your side, you can take comfort knowing that you were going into a renovation with a good plan of action, which minimizes those little surprises.
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