Figure out what holds up the house before tearing down walls

Published January 19, 2011 5:00am ET



Removing a wall to create an open-floor plan seems easy enough but without proper planning, it could become a construction disaster. “You should hire an engineer or architect,” said Chris Dvorak, owner of Dvorak Drafting Consultants. “It’s like using Miss Utility. Otherwise you’re doing this at your own peril.”

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