Wall demolition is not an everyday home improvement project. Therefore, it calls for due consideration and a cautious approach.
While wall removal provides immense benefits, a cost-benefit analysis is critical before demolishing a wall on your property.
Besides, define your core objectives. Are you seeking to create extra space or invite more natural light into your room?
More importantly, it’s prudent to enlist a professional wall demolition company and obtain relevant permits before going ahead with the project.
This post goes over everything there is to know about wall removal in Western Australia, including the benefits and key considerations before undertaking this home renovation.
Do I Need Wall Demolition?
Wall demolition comes with several perks. Notably, it increases the sense of space on your property.
Every wall eliminated extends the space of adjacent rooms by creating an open-floor layout.
The open-floor concept is synonymous with smaller offices due to its ability to streamline workplace operations. However, homeowners may also take advantage of this space-enhancing layout to add extra comfort and convenience to their homes.
A professional WA wall removal specialist will visit your property and inspect the walls that need demolishing. The technician will then issue you a quote based on the expected work scope. If you’re both on the same page, they’ll draft a proper methodology that guarantees maximum safety and efficiency.
Below are other benefits of wall removal for Western Australia homeowners;
1. Optimizing Natural Light
Natural light has a way of injecting warmth into our living spaces. However, multiple internal walls can block the amount of natural light penetrating your property.
If you work from home or are a stay-at-home parent, little penetration of natural light into your property may have you resort to artificial lighting for most of the day. The net result? High monthly energy bills.
Getting an interior wall demolished lets you maximize natural light by eliminating unwelcome shadows. Besides, you get to save on energy by reducing the reliance on light bulbs during the day.
2. Reducing Clutter
A cluttered home translates to a cluttered mind. Indeed, it’s difficult to think straight when your clothing, books, or kitchen utensils are strewn all over the place.
But clutter isn’t always a sign of poor organization or the diminished size of a room. Sometimes, it has more to do with the number of rooms in a building.
If you’ve had no luck keeping your home tidy despite your best efforts, a wall demolition may be appropriate. Removing a wall creates a larger room, allowing you to utilize the space more effectively.
3. Enhancing Your Home’s Versatility
Knocking down a wall or two can improve your property’s versatility in diverse ways.
First, fewer walls invite more natural light. Natural light can create a vibrant aura by highlighting various interior details, such as furniture and wall hangings.
Besides, the open-floor plan created by fewer walls renders a versatile space that could serve multiple purposes. By simply rearranging the furniture accordingly, you can have an exquisite dining area, a dedicated home office, or a bustling children’s playroom.
Factors to Consider Before WA Wall Demolition
Before enlisting a wall demolition company, determine whether the benefits of knocking down some walls in your property outweigh the removal costs.
Note that wall removal costs can vary significantly depending on the type and number of walls to be demolished.
Plasterboard and wooden walls are among the cheapest to remove, as both require less sophisticated equipment to tear down. That’s in contrast to masonry or concrete walls.
Load-bearing walls are also more expensive to demolish than non-load-bearing ones. The cost is even higher for walls that house several utilities within their cavities.
Note that all wall demolitions must be followed by reconstruction. The amount of post-demolition work equally impacts the removal costs. For instance, glass walls require minimal work after installing new panels. In contrast, masonry walls may need to be painted at an extra cost.
Below are other considerations before seeking wall removal services in Western Australia;
1. Load-bearing versus Non-load-bearing Walls
Load-bearing walls aren’t just costly to remove. They also require a cautious approach. A little mishap and your property could come crumbling down.
To safely remove load-bearing walls, a wall demolition contractor will make temporary provisions for channeling the load. The specialist may install temporary beams or columns, keeping the roof and upper floors firmly held during removal.
Non-load-bearing walls are easier to remove since they don’t carry much of your property’s weight.
2. Utilities in the Wall Cavity
Wall cavities house a network of electrical cables, plumbing pipes, and air conditioner fixtures. All these must be taken into consideration before seeking wall removal services.
Get a technician who can skillfully remove and safely reinstall all essential utilities in a wall’s cavity.
3. Need for Extra Caution
Although wall removal is an inherently sensitive project, certain walls require more heightened caution.
For instance, glass walls should be carefully demolished to contain the fragments. There are also asbestos walls, which can pose severe human safety and environmental concerns.
If your property was constructed using this hazardous material, it’s best to enlist the services of a licensed asbestos removalist to minimize hazardous exposure.
Preparing For Wall Removal in WA
After weighing your options and deciding to go ahead with wall removal, the next critical step is to find a licensed demolition expert.
Wall removal companies can possess a Class 1 or Class 2 license. Class 1 license holders are legally authorized to remove walls measuring 10 meters high, while contractors with Class 2 licenses can only remove walls below ten meters.
Therefore, it pays to understand the height of your property’s walls before contacting a demolition expert.
After honing in on a suitable wall demolition company, obtain proper licenses.
A BA5 license is mandatory before undertaking wall removal projects in WA. Apply for the permit and ensure all legal property owners and your identified demolition contractor sign it.
For sensitive projects, such as demolishing asbestos walls or walls in multi-story buildings, you may also require WorkSafe Approval.
Wrap Up
Wall removal is an ingenious way to maximize the amount of natural light coming into your property. If professionally undertaken, wall demolition can transform your interior décor into a vibrant living space.
But as mentioned, it’s prudent to proceed cautiously before enlisting wall demolition services. Determine whether the benefits outweigh the costs, especially in the case of load-bearing walls.
It’s also best to have all wall demolitions conducted by duly licensed technicians. This provides peace of mind, knowing the project will be undertaken professionally, in record time, and with minimal damage to your property and possessions.
