603-716-1522
Wall Projects
Here you will find examples of the many types of wall projects we complete.
Wall Removal
This was a non-load-bearing wall we removed as part of a major kitchen remodel in Salem, NH. Our clients never used the dining room and wanted an open, functional kitchen with high-end touches.
The wall between kitchen and (unused) dining room will be removed.
The view from the dining room towards the kitchen.
Demo in progress. Looking through the kitchen toward the dining room .
Demo in progress. The view from the dining room into the kitchen.
The view through the kitchen toward the old dining room.
The view from the old dining room into the kitchen.
Wall Removal
This was an odd dividing wall in what otherwise could have been a large and elegant great room. It never was clear whether the previous owners had added it or whether it was part of the original build. There was an out-of-place wet bar in the front room which the previous owners had used as an office. We removed the wall (and wet bar), opening up the space into one usable and elegant space.
Looking from the room entry to the front of the home.
Looking from the front of the home toward the room entry and fireplace. The wall and wetbar will be removed.
Looking from the fireplace to front of home.
Looking from front of home toward room entry.
Looking from front of home toward fireplace.
Wall Removal
Load-Bearing
(Undermount Beam)
This was a dramatic transformation. As part of this high-end kitchen and whole-floor remodel, this wall between kitchen and dining room was completely removed. It was a load-bearing wall. Working with load-bearing walls requires the building of temporary walls to support the weight above. This job also required significant modifications to the home including shoring up the framing in the basement, and adding multiple support columns. For budget and design considerations, the beam was mounted below the ceiling and we fabricated a custom wrap which looks like a solid, antique beam.
The wall between the kitchen and dining room will be removed.
Demo done and temporary walls in place.
LVL beam framed in place.
After the kitchen has been completed. Dramatic change!
Looking into the kitchen from the dining room.
For budget and design purposes, the beam was under-mounted. We built a rustic wood wrap to look like an antique beam..
The new lally columns and steel plates as required by our engineer.
New lally column and steel plate.
Reinforcement of an existing beam required by our engineer.
Wall Removal
Load-Bearing
(Recessed Beam)
This load-bearing wall between kitchen and dining room was removed. Our client chose to recess the beam into the ceiling for a clean, open look. In this case, we had to cut and jackhammer the basement floor to pour a new concrete footing and add another support column to carry the weight above.
Once we started doing demo we found that the "pass-through" opening was not original, it had been created by a previous homeowner. It was NOT framed properly for a load-bearing wall, it had just been cut out and cosmetically finished. The joists for the floor above had sagged significantly as a result. The full-length of this wall, because that was now a weak point. This is why it is so important not to attempt to do this if you don't know exactly what you're doing.
Wall between kitchen and dining room.
Jack-hammering basement floor for new footing (and lally column).
Temporary walls erected. LVL beam in place. Jacking sagging floor joists into place.
Done!
Floorplan completely opened.
Wall Removal
Load Bearing
(Enlarging Opening)
This cased opening between the kitchen and dining room was enlarged by about 2 feet. It was in a load-bearing wall and so required the same procedures as removing an entire wall, such as building temporary walls, except on a mini-scale.
Kitchen side.
Dining room side.
Demo done and temporary walls in place.
Opening enlarged with new framing and header.
Project complete from kitchen side.
Project complete from dining room side.
Wall Removal
The dividing wall between kitchen and dining room was removed. Also, the wall next to the refrigerator was shortened to match the depth of the new counter-depth refrigerator.
The wall between kitchen and dining room.
View from the dining room.
View through the kitchen. Demo done ready for electrician.
View from the dining room. Wall next to fridge cut back (drywall installed).
Drywall and electric done. View through the kitchen.
View from the dining room.
Pass-Through Opening
Sometimes, a project calls for creating a pass-through opening in a wall rather than full removal. That was the case in this kitchen remodel. We were contracted to perform only parts of this job, Structural framing, drywall and cabinet installation specifically.
Here we created the pass-through opening, framing it for a potential stone bar top and enlarged the doorway as much as possible. In the process, our plumber had to remove a baseboard register, re-route a heat supply pipe, and reinstall the baseboard register.
Wall opened up. Baseboard register removed so framing and drywall can be completed. That pipe in the middle of our new opening has to be moved!
Heat pipe re-routed and framing done. We minimized overall cost by framing from one side, leaving the drywall intact on the opposite side.
Drywall and paint complete. Heat register re-installed.
©2020 Image Contracting, LLC