The top picture is making me think - what options are available after a wall is removed above floor boards? We don't really want to have to redo the complete floor. What else can be done?

Our U-shaped kitchen is centrally located in the apartment and boxed in by stud walls, so we're planning to remove them and open it back up.

when a removed wall leaves a gap in floor boards consider inserting another floorboard (or two) into the gap at right angles to the original...it fills the hole and makes a feature out of the history of the home and the timber doesn't have to be an exact match as even an original timber board will have aged differently...a closer matching flooboard can be salvaged from a less conspicuos part of the floor (or from under carpet) ...fiddly work but well worth the effort just like replacing a broken floor tile and needs similar techniques

Hi We have been in our Townhouse since 2002 our living and dinning room are semi open as there is a wall separating them only halfway. If this wall was knocked down we would get a full view of our courtyard rather than two separate views. It would allow extra light, make the space larger and we would be able to get a longer couch where the wall currently is. We also have floor boards so that would also need to be fixed.

@oklouise - I like the idea of boards being put at right angles to the original. thanks!

A personal decision for sure. I prefer a seamless look without the nod to times past and would lift and replace boards in the space to reflect that.

@Brian C don't forget the same happens above, ceiling will need to be repaired to cover evidence of previous wall ceiling junction.

@Janelle - yes true, as I will probably need a beam installed that will be part of the cleanup.

Amanda, what a fabulous idea to add some extra pattern and texture and make a problem into a feature

We have already removed a wall. And although this advice isn’t about floors or ceilings, it’s still important.

We strongly recommend obtaining advice from a professional engineer, or demanding evidence that your builder has (and insist it’s free of caveats like, “based on information provided by others”).

Our builder removed a load bearing wall. He was supposed to get an engineer’s assessment. The cheapsake, cowboy, con artist didn’t do that. He deceived. He had a rough guess at the size of the beam. And he got it wrong.

We asked for a copy of the engineer’s assessment. The builder lied about having one. Then finally admitted he guessed. He engaged an engineer. The assessment had caveats. We insisted it be caveat free. The engineers then had to inspect his work. They found the cowboy had lied to them too - and given false info about what was put in. His beam was under-dimensioned and not even braced to the house. The engineers gave the builder simple instructions to rectify his muck up. Three beams later, the idiot got it right. And the engineers could then approve the work.

But remember, on paper they had already declared the under dimensioned beam was ok (but with a caveat). Moral of the story - insist on a site inspection by the engineer. Or, just like our roof could have, your roof might cave in! And probably not on top of the idiot builder who would deserve to be buried under it!

Btw - hello John Z. Ears burning by any chance?

There’s some good people around but it’s hard for a lay person to tell who’s who, so do what you can to protect yourself from cowboys, is our message.

Wow! @DmStan, thank you for the words of warning!

@Brian. No worries, Brian. Regular Houzzers may get tired of me telling that story, but if the repetition protects just one family from a potentially life threatening disaster, it’s well worth it. Especially as we know that cowboy is still in business.

No caveats + Site inspection by a qualified engineer = protection when removing a loading bearing wall.

I have a Mediterranean style home in Wahroonga NSW and I plan to take a wall out to open up the kitchen to the family room.

Alison

would love to see your gorgeous house

Has anyone in (inner) Sydney had a wall removed and they were really happy with the work and would recommend the builder?

Has anyone in (inner) Sydney had a wall removed and they were really happy with the work and would recommend the builder?