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No mystery, no surprises. Here's exactly what happens from first phone call to open floor plan.
The full load bearing wall removal process takes 1–3 days of on-site work for most residential projects and involves nine steps: assessment and engineering, preparation, temporary shoring, wall demolition, beam installation, post and connection work, shoring removal, finish work, and cleanup. The total timeline from first call to finished project is typically 2–6 weeks, with the actual construction compressed into 1–3 working days.
Most homeowners have never seen the inside of a wall removal project, so the unknown is what causes anxiety. This guide walks you through every step — what happens, why it happens, and what you'll experience in your home during each phase.
Before Work Day
This is the most important step — and it happens before anyone picks up a hammer. Our Professional Engineer (PE), Mateo Galvez, evaluates your home's structure to design the replacement beam system.
What happens during engineering:
Duration: On-site assessment takes 30–60 minutes. Engineering calculations and drawing production typically take 1–2 weeks. PE-stamped drawings are what you'll need for your permit application (permits are the homeowner's responsibility).
Day 1 — Morning
Before any demolition begins, the crew spends 30–60 minutes protecting your home. This is what separates professional wall removal from the horror stories you see online.
🛋️ Furniture
Moved away from the work area and covered with heavy-duty moving blankets
🏗️ Dust Barriers
Plastic sheeting seals off the work area from adjacent rooms to contain dust
🏠 Floor Protection
Ram board or heavy paper covers flooring in the work zone and traffic paths
What you'll notice: The crew will ask you to move personal items away from the wall. Larger furniture can usually be shifted to the far side of the room rather than moved out entirely.
Day 1
This is the step that keeps your house standing while the load bearing wall is removed. Temporary posts and beams are installed on both sides of the wall to support the ceiling, floor, and roof loads above.
How shoring works:
What you'll notice: Temporary posts will be visible on both sides of the wall. It looks like scaffolding inside your house. This is normal and temporary — they come down once the permanent beam is installed.
Day 1
With the structure safely shored, the wall comes down. This is the dramatic part — and it's also the fastest.
Demolition sequence:
What you'll notice: This is the noisiest part of the project. Sawzalls, hammers, and pry bars make significant noise for 1–2 hours. Dust is contained by the plastic barriers but some will escape. If you're working from home, use headphones during this phase.
Day 1–2
This is the main event. The structural beam is lifted into the ceiling opening and positioned exactly according to the PE's drawings.
The beam arrives as a single piece, pre-cut to length. Multiple crew members lift it into place — a 16-foot W12×30 weighs 480 lbs. Pockets are cut into the walls at each end to receive the beam. The beam is leveled and temporarily secured while connections are made.
Individual LVL plies are carried in and assembled in place. Construction adhesive is applied between plies, and through-bolts or structural screws clamp them together. The assembled beam is positioned and leveled in the ceiling opening.
What you'll notice: This is the most impressive part of the project. Watching a crew maneuver a heavy steel beam through your house and lift it into the ceiling is something most homeowners have never seen. Many take photos and videos.
Day 1–2
The beam is only as strong as what holds it up and what connects to it. This step completes the load path from roof to foundation.
Connection components:
Why this matters: The connections are what make the whole system work. A beam that's just sitting in pockets without proper connections can shift, settle, or fail. Every connection is specified by the PE and must match the stamped drawings exactly.
Day 2
With the permanent beam, posts, and all connections in place, the temporary shoring is carefully removed. This is the moment of truth — the structural load transfers from the temporary supports to the new beam system.
What you'll notice: The crew removes the temporary posts one at a time, watching for any unexpected movement. In a properly engineered and installed beam system, there should be zero visible deflection. The open span appears for the first time without any posts in the way — this is usually when homeowners say "wow."
Day 2–3
The structural work is done — now it's about making it look like the wall was never there.
Finish work includes:
Note: LBWP's base pricing covers the structural work. Finish work (drywall, texture, paint) can be quoted as an add-on or handled by the homeowner's own painter/handyman. Many homeowners choose to have LBWP handle everything for a turnkey result.
Day 2–3
We don't leave until your house is clean and you're satisfied.
What you'll notice: Your newly open floor plan. The room feels dramatically larger. Natural light flows further into the house. The transformation is immediate and striking — and it's the reason homeowners consistently say wall removal was the best renovation they've ever done.
| Project Type | On-Site Work Days | Total Timeline (Call to Done) |
|---|---|---|
| Single wall removal (1-story) | 1–2 days | 2–4 weeks |
| Single wall removal (2-story) | 1–2 days | 2–4 weeks |
| Multiple wall removals | 2–4 days | 3–5 weeks |
| Kitchen remodel with wall removal | 3–5 days | 4–6 weeks |
Loud during demolition (1–2 hours) — sawzalls, hammers, pry bars. Moderate during beam installation and connections. Quiet during finish work. Comparable to having a contractor remodel a bathroom.
Contained by plastic barriers. Some fine dust will escape — plan to wipe down surfaces in adjacent rooms after the project. Professional crews minimize dust significantly compared to DIY, but it's not zero.
The rest of your house remains accessible and livable. Bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen (unless it's in the work zone) — all usable. The work area is the only restricted zone. Pets should be kept in another room.
Crews typically arrive between 8–9 AM and work until 4–5 PM. No weekend work unless specifically requested. No surprise early mornings. We respect your home and your schedule.
No. You can stay home the entire time. The work area is sealed off with plastic barriers, and the rest of the house is accessible. Most homeowners stay home and go about their day in other rooms. Some work from home during the project. The noisiest parts (demolition) last a few hours, not days.
Less than you'd expect. Plastic dust barriers contain debris to the work area. Floors are protected. Furniture is covered. Some fine dust escapes — plan to wipe down surfaces in adjacent rooms after the project. But the work area itself is cleaned daily, and full cleanup is included in every project.
Walls can contain electrical wiring, plumbing, HVAC ducts, or even structural elements from previous renovations. Professional crews identify utilities before demolition. If rerouting is needed, it's handled — but may require additional work by licensed tradespeople (electrician, plumber). LBWP discusses the possibility of hidden utilities during the estimate so you're prepared.
Absolutely — from a safe distance. Most homeowners are fascinated by the process, especially watching a heavy steel beam get maneuvered into place. We just ask that you stay outside the active work zone during demolition and beam lifting. Watching from an adjacent room or through the plastic barriers is fine. Many homeowners take photos and videos.
Any utilities in the wall need to be rerouted. Electrical wires can usually be rerouted through the ceiling or floor by a licensed electrician. Plumbing is more complex and may require opening adjacent walls. HVAC ducts may need rerouting or elimination. Rerouting is typically quoted separately from the structural work. LBWP identifies visible utilities during the estimate; hidden ones are handled on work day.
Typically 2–6 weeks total. Same-day or next-day ballpark by phone, on-site assessment within a week, engineering in 1–2 weeks, then installation in 1–3 days. The biggest variable is the homeowner's schedule and permit timeline (permits are the homeowner's responsibility). LBWP can usually schedule installation within a week of engineering completion.
2026 pricing for every configuration
Beam sizing by span and load
5 visual checks any homeowner can do
Which beam type is right for your project
Full overview of LBWP services
Before & after photos from real projects
Free estimate. PE-engineered. Lifetime warranty. Most projects completed in 1–2 days.
