How to Remove a Load-Bearing Wall in a House

Remove the drywall from the load-bearing wall. If the wall is drywall, then use an electric drill with a screw tip bit to remove the screws that hold the drywall to the studs. Put the drill in the reverse position to turn the screws in the counterclockwise direction, and then pull the loose drywall sheets away from the wall.

If the wall is plaster, use a hammer to pound holes in the wall, striking between the wall studs. Use the hammer and a pry bar to pry the plaster and underlying wood lath off the wall studs. Cut metal lath with the wire cutters if necessary.

Measure the distance from the floor to the bottom of the ceiling joist that is supported by the load-bearing wall. This dimension will be the combined height of the posts and beam. Measure the load-bearing wall's horizontal length. It is the beam's length.

Cut a replacement support beam to the necessary length with a reciprocal saw, using the measurement you took in the previous step as your guide. Use a circular saw to cut six 2-by-4-inch boards to the height required for the jack studs that will serve as posts to support the beam. The height of the jack studs will equal the height of the wall minus the height of the support beam.

Nail three of the 2-by-4 jack studs together with 16d nails. Make the boards flush at the top, bottom and sides. The combined boards will make a post that is 4 ½ inches thick. Repeat this process with the other three jack studs.

Raise the support beam to the ceiling, asking helpers to lift the beam. Have the helpers hold the support beam in place horizontally about 3 feet in front of the load-bearing wall.

Slide the jack studs under the support beam. Place one jack stud near each end of the beam. Use a hammer to tap the jack studs until they are vertically straight and centered under the support beam. Drive 16d nails through each side of the jack studs to connect the jack studs to the support beam, placing the nails near the top of the jack studs and driving them into the support beam at about a 45-degree angle.

Strike the studs in the load-bearing wall with the hammer to loosen the studs from the wall's top and bottom plates. Pull the studs off the wall. Use the hammer and a pry bar to pry the top and bottom plates of the load-bearing wall off the ceiling and floor.