Would you knock stud walls down yourself?

[notasize10yetbutoneday]

If you were a complete DIY novice and didn't have a clue where to start? or would you stop being so tight and get someon into do it(as we will have to get someone in to re-plaster afterwards anyway).

Guess which is my opinion and which is DH's ?

Anyway, opinions please, I will go with the MN jury.

Check for cables, plumbing anad stuff. If nothing there then it should be easy.

I've done it - mucky but quite satisfying.

I have done it and as lala says it is satisfying although now after 11 renovations the novelty has worn off!Get the plasterers to do it If it doesn't need structural support it will be quick and not really add much to the cost plus they will clear up the mess!

We have done, but sorting out the cabling was a bit of a pain, so if there are any sockets or switches or light-fittings on it then you'll need someone who can remove them safely.

We did it. Was v. satisfying. Had brief moment of panic when we wondered if wall was actually holding up the ceiling (100 years of dodgy building works made it entirely believable that wooden supposedly non-load-bearing partition was in fact holding entire house up! Rang FIL (architect) who said 'start sawing through the wooden post and if your saw gets stuck then that is because the ceiling is starting to come down . It was fine, of course. I always think it's pointless paying someone to knock something down, as it usually requires only enthusiasm and a big hammer!

I did it 6 months ago.
Started off very tentatively, but really got into it. Had cables running through it to switches and power sockets which I disconnected and pulled through (having turned power off). Then got a friend of a friend with a meter (?) to check they were okay - they were.
Only problem I had was a water pipe in the wall which had supposedly been disconnected. Started leaking when I tried to saw it off to get rid. Had to pay £50 to get it sorted properly.

Check first if the wall is load bearing, generally the wall is not load bearing if the wall runs the same direction as the joists above it so if the joists run at 90 degrees to the wall then get expert advise. If the wall is upstairs check that it is not supporting the weight of a water tank or you will be in big trouble if it is removed and never assume that a stud wall is not load bearing. If htere are pipes or cables in the wall get a plumber and an electrican to sort them out for you.

I suspect that it's fun (the first time) but not actually worth it.

In my experience, there are a whole load of DIY jobs that take the amateur a day and you make a mess, while a pro can do it in 30 mins, clean it up, and have time for a nice cup of tea.

Thanks all, forgotten I had posted this once DH and I made up. I can see that it would be very satisying indeed to run through walls, kamikaze stylee but being of a naturally nervous disposition the mere mention of wiring, cabling and potential ceiling falling down was enough to convince us me!

If they are only studs then it shouldnt be a problem BUT you will possibly need to sort out the ceiling above and when we did it we found we ended up with a spaghetti of cables hanging down.