Summary: Learn how to add a doorway, build a timber partition wall, construct a masonry loadbearing wall and install a timber stud loadbearing wall.
Creating a doorway will involve knocking through an existing wall. Great care must be taken before starting any type of major work on the walls of a building.
Before making a hole in a wall, you need to ascertain whether the wall is loadbearing and integral to supporting the ceiling and floor above. If the wall is loadbearing, it will need to be supported by lintels. If floor or ceiling joists run at right angles to the wall it may indicate it is supporting their weight. If in any doubt consult a structural engineer or professional builder to determine whether the wall is loadbearing and what level of support will be needed if it is.
You should also check for electrical wires and pipes behind the wall in the planning stages of the project. A cable and pipe detector can be used for this purpose.
A partition wall has no structural significance and requires no support but you should still check for pipes and cables. If pipes or cables are detected they will have to be rerouted.
If the wall is masonry, you will need to insert timber supports, called needles, into the brickwork above the opening, which will rest on props to support the weight of the wall. When cutting into masonry wear protective goggles and a mask, and ensure the room is well ventilated.
As mentioned above a timber stud wall can also be loadbearing. To cut an opening for a new doorway in this type of wall use the following method:
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