Removing Interior Walls...
I have a 3-bedroom, 1955 Eichler in Rancho San Miguel, Walnut Creek. The original kitchen has served its purpose - time for a change!
The plan calls for reducing the wall which separates the the Kitchen from the Living Room. This wall contains load-bearing posts, which I am ok with (I'm going to wrap 'em in brushed stainless and call 'em "industrial chic") BUT...what about the 2x4 that is at 90° to the wall? It connects this central wall to the exterior wall of the house, and forms a "frame" for the kitchen doorway.
One contractor tells me that it's purely cosmetic, another tells me it is holding the house together.
Has anyone had experience removing this piece of wood? Is your house still standing??
Thanks!
The 2x4 running laterally at 6'-8" height is not capable of "holding the house together". Before you strip that part of the wall, though, I'd ask: do you really want the kitchen "island" so exposed to the front entry? If yes, then you should have no trouble if you remove all but the load-bearing posts at the wall between living and kitchen. I just think "industrial chic" and more to the point loft-style open kitchens right off the front entry in an Eichler can be tricky in terms of things like re-sale value, etc. But it's your house, after all, so suit yourself.
/te
I have to second Tom here. I have seen one or two of the 3 BR models (I assume you have one similar to the SM-100 which can be seen on the link below and which is quite common here in RSM) where the kitchen island divider has been torn down. The effect is quite striking and certainly not for everyone. Caveat emptor.
http://www.totheweb.com/eichler/brochures/lexington/images2/plans_SM100_SM223_SM134.jpg
Can we see? Can we see?
I'm afraid not. I saw it earlier this year at some open houses. One was in San Antonio Way.
I have a 3-bedroom, 1955 Eichler in Rancho San Miguel, Walnut Creek. The original kitchen has served its purpose - time for a change!
The plan calls for reducing the wall which separates the the Kitchen from the Living Room. This wall contains load-bearing posts, which I am ok with (I'm going to wrap 'em in brushed stainless and call 'em "industrial chic") BUT...what about the 2x4 that is at 90° to the wall? It connects this central wall to the exterior wall of the house, and forms a "frame" for the kitchen doorway.
One contractor tells me that it's purely cosmetic, another tells me it is holding the house together.
Has anyone had experience removing this piece of wood? Is your house still standing??
Thanks!
You can remove it, it does give lateral support for the wall but your removing most of the 3/4 wall so it will not need the same amount of support.
Lets see when your done.
