Can this wall be removed?

[Whoevenknows79]

Have offered on a property and am keen to create a kitchen diner by removing the load bearing wall between the kitchen and the lounge. Is there any reason I won't be able to remove this wall? The kitchen and lounge are North facing and therefore a little dark, so hoping the removal and some bifolds will improve the light. Any advice welcome!

Pretty much any wall can be removed. You have to keep posts either end and hold up what's above with a supporting beam.
As you already have this in your lounge you can see what it would look like. You'll end up with a t shaped beam in this situation and you may need a supporting post at the junction. A structural engineer is needed.
Bear in mind that to not have a post will cost substantially more, if it can be done according to the engineers calculations.

Not without replacing it with an RSJ. Have a google and you’ll see what structural survey you’d need and the potential impact on heating efficiency/costs etc.

You might have to leave some of the wall either side and not open up fully across.

If the structural engineer says it’s possible, it will be expensive and messy.

Bifolds will definitely help with the heating.

PPs have said this, but you can knock down any wall provided there is an RSJ support installed. I have a big open plan now with two walls down, one load bearing. The RSJ needs somewhere to "rest on" so if you don't have a that, then putting a support post up is needed, as mentioned above.

Don't let it put you off, get an engineer to advise the feasibility.

My first thought was to move the kitchen to either lounge or dining area and make current kitchen the lounge. The wall between the lounge and dining room might not be load bearing and it would be a lot easier.

I hope it works out for you!

Thanks for the replies. We are planning to be in the house long term so will be worth the pain if it's what we decide on. I'm feeling a little anxious about the house being a bit dark at the back, so I guess an looking for reassurance that there are things I can do to introduce more light. @waitamo how do you like open plan living?

@Whoevenknows79 I may not be the best person to ask that depending on your family situation! I live on my own and before I opened downstairs up there were two rooms I never used as I mostly lived in the kitchen area TBH. My family called those room the "museums" lol.

Now that it's all opened up I find it much more convivial and when people come over there's plenty of room. I have "zones" like the TV area, a reading/chill out sofa area and a "work" area where my computer stuff is, tucked away in an alcove. And of course the kitchen/eating part. It's not a big house by any means BTW. just your average 3 bed.

I'm retired now and did the work as part of a "Future Proofing" job so I could stay here as long as possible in the event of disability or illness, including a d/s walk in shower room. I can put back a stud wall downstairs if I need that space for a bedroom but for now all is great, and it suits my lifestyle.

Bear in mind that I had the inner outer walls dry lined and insulated, and the entire space is never cold.

I hope you get to do what you would like and that it works out for you.

Is it a supporting wall? If it’s stud work, you can remove it easily. If it’s structural, you’ll need calculations and a steel beam. Possibly a pad foundation too.

'Have offered on a property and am keen to create a kitchen diner by removing the load bearing wall between the kitchen and the lounge'

Is it an extension on the back or the original house?

If the section at the back has been added then it may be more complicated. Still usually possible but more expensive as can need support in both directions.

@Teathecolourofcreosote yes, part of the lounge is an extension and the kitchen has been extended too.

@Teathecolourofcreosote is there anyway of knowing without getting a structural engineer? They mentioned part of the wall between the lounge and extension had to stay for the structure to be sound.

We got a builder out to quote, and he confirmed ours needed an RSJ, he then confirmed with the structural engineer when we decided to go ahead, ours is north facing too and has so much more light now, we rarely use our living room these days since the dining room was opened into the kitchen

Thanks @waitamo sounds like you have a great set up. We are a couple with a 4 year old.

I'd imagine they mean the bit circled in red which is presumably supporting the RSJs which hold up the back of the house.

There can be clever things done with cross supports but I can't see how you'd avoid the need for a structural engineer (though can't claim too much expertise in this area)

@Smallorveryfaraway do you have any idea of the cost difference? That might be a 'how long is a piece of string" kind question I know....

Yes, that's right @Teathecolourofcreosote. Seems it could be more complicated and costly than I thought. I'd love to get a ball park cost, but that doesn't seem possible without a structural engineer.

Looking at the pictures again, I now see there are 2 beams, which are where the original walls have been removed. Does anyone know what impact this will have?

Cost wise, no, it really does depend on your situation, but the difference will not be small, so think several thousand rather than a few hundred.
The existing beams complicate things, you really do just need a structural engineer to come and look at it all.