How Much To Knock Down A Wall Between Kitchen and Dining Room UK

One of the biggest perks of an open-floor kitchen is that it creates an open space. There are no walls in between, which results in lots of space, which makes sense aesthetically. Open-plan kitchens are a growing trend in modern homes. Homeowners love the idea of having an open space. But before you proceed and decide to knock down a load-bearing wall. We will help you understand some important stuff like why you should knock down the wall, costs and points to consider. 

Why Knock Down the Wall Between Your Kitchen & Dining Room?

It makes aesthetic sense, right? One of the main reasons UK homeowners remove the wall between their kitchen and dining room is that it looks pleasing to the eye. Modern architecture, Hollywood and the latest home designs all incorporate an open kitchen setting. 

This makes your home look sleek and modern while adding an aesthetic touch. Everyone wants to jump on this latest trend, but it is in your best interest to plan ahead. Knocking down a wall is not that simple. You need to check out a few things, like if it is a supporting wall and how it affects heating and noise within your house.

Grab a seat as we spill the beans. Let's go through these points first:

Things to Keep in Mind Before Making Your Decision

Pre-planning can help save you time and money in the long run. It is important to keep in mind these factors before knocking down a wall between your kitchen and dining room:

Check if it is a supporting wall

A supporting wall, often referred to as a load-bearing wall, supports the weight of the roof or other walls while transferring that weight to the foundation. The walls may have hidden pipes or electrical wires.

This serves as a reason for you to pre-plan before going ahead. 

Lack of Heat

Removal of the partition wall means heat can travel upstairs or outside the front door. This may lead to heating issues within your home. The best way is to assess the situation and check how it can affect your day-to-day living.

You can go for underfloor heating, but that is something entirely different and comes with an extra set of costs. 

Travelling of Sound

Walls and doors mean less noise. Whether it is a partition wall or a pony wall, they are designed to ensure peace and control the travel of sound within your home. Make sure to personally evaluate or get professional help to ensure that the peace of your home is not affected in case you knock down the wall.

Peeking At The Costs Involved

The cost to tear down a wall depends on the wall type (load-bearing, etc), size and if any additional structural work is required. Here is how knocking down a wall might go concerning costs:

Cost for Load-Bearing walls

Load-bearing walls are expensive to remove. They support building structures and require professional assistance (structural engineers), steel beams and building control approval. These additional steps significantly drive up your costs.

Removal of load-bearing walls comes with extra costs attached. Here is how the cost structure goes:

Average Cost Per Square Meter:

The average cost is between £1500 and £3800 per square meter. Pricing is flexible and mostly depends on the wall type and the complexity of the project.

Structural Beam Engineer

A consultation costs you between £400 and £2000, depending on the engineer’s experience. This helps with wall removal without any consequences.

Steel Beam Installation

Steel beams cost somewhere between £50-£100 per meter without the added cost of labour. It helps support the additional structure so your open kitchen dream becomes a reality.

Cost for Non-Load-Bearing Walls

These walls are easier to remove. They do not support any additional structure or pass down that weight to the foundation. However, it is important to keep your costs in check.

Example:

While checking prices, there was a quote for £3k for 6 days of work. That is why it is essential to check with multiple service providers.

Conclusion

To sum up, removing the wall between your kitchen and dining room is a significant investment. Especially if the walls are load-bearing, i.e. they support additional structure. This can significantly drive up the costs. Although aesthetically pleasing, make sure that wall removal does not destroy your regular life. So make sure to assess important stuff like in-house heating, extra noise and costs. Planning and seeking expert advice is the best way to go forward with your open kitchen plans.