How much should it cost to knock down a load bearing wall. I will do all the details of paint, etc.?

The cost of kocking down the wall is very little. But the cost of rebuilding the house after it collapses can be substantial. If you're going to take out a load bearing wall, it means you have to put back something to bear the load. This is usually a ';header,'; made of sturdy timbers that are nailed together in a sandwhich -perhaps three 2 X 12 boards. The header is supported on either end by 2 X 4's that are nailed together to form posts -and under them, there had better also be strong support to transfer the load into the ground (basement floor) under the house.





Often, ';shoring'; timbers or ';jack posts'; are put into place to hold everything up while the wall comes down and the header is installed. This is a job for a contractor who knows his/her stuff.





All that said, not all bearing walls bear a great deal of weight -they just happen to be a place where building components above them have a place to rest -for example, the floor joists for an attic, which are nailed together over the bearing wall. Its made that way so the joists won't sag where the are connected. If the attic has little in it, holding that up is not as much of a challenge as holding up a bathroom with tile floor and massive old fixtures in it.





So -before you do anything- get a consult from a contractor who knows ehat's involved. A local lumber yard is a good place to ask around.





Supposing you find this person, I'll give you an estimate of $2,000.00, which will leave you with a paintable surface (probably wall board) ready for you to do your thing. If there's plumbing or electricity behind the wall -it might be a bit higher. I'm assuming a span of about 10'.





Good luck.How much should it cost to knock down a load bearing wall. I will do all the details of paint, etc.?
well thats going to be a great undertaking... plus last i check, i don't think that is it wise to knock out a load bearing wall... what are you putting in its place to hold that part of your house so it doesn't cave in??How much should it cost to knock down a load bearing wall. I will do all the details of paint, etc.?
You need a lot more detail to get a specific answer, and, even with all the detail you can provide, it would be difficult to say.





When you talk about knocking down a load-bearing wall, obviously that load still has to be supported. So what you are actually doing is rebuilding part of the house. It's a big under-taking, and painting will be the least of the expenses involved here.





I rehab houses for a living, and I don't mess with the load bearing structures. Make sure you have a reputable company do the work, and get several bids.





Good luck.