Open Concept Remodeling and Wall Removal in Asheville, NC
Taking out the wall between the kitchen and the living room, with a header sized by an engineer and a ceiling that stays flat.
Wall removal projects typically run $7,000 to $25,000. Free in-home consultation.
- Licensed & Insured
- Family-Owned
- Free Estimates
Every wall is load bearing until proven otherwise
The single most requested change in the Asheville houses we remodel is opening the kitchen to the living space. Whether it is a weekend job or a structural project depends entirely on what the wall carries. We check the framing direction above, look in the attic and crawlspace, and where load is involved we bring an engineer for a stamped beam size instead of guessing from a span table.
What the work involves
- Temporary shoring. The load above is carried on temporary walls while the opening is framed.
- Beam and posts. LVL or steel sized for the span, with posts carrying down to a footing or a reinforced floor system – not just to the subfloor.
- Flush or dropped. A flush beam sits inside the ceiling so the drywall runs unbroken. A dropped beam costs less and leaves a visible header. We price both.
- Everything inside the wall. Wiring, plumbing, ductwork and returns rerouted, not just cut.
- Finishes. Ceiling and wall drywall patched into the existing texture, flooring woven in where the wall used to be, trim and paint.
The detail that gives it away
Most DIY openings are obvious from the bulkhead left behind and the flooring seam running across the room. We plan both up front: flush beam where the budget allows, and flooring woven or fully replaced through the opening so the room reads as one space.
We do this work in Asheville, Hendersonville, Arden, Candler, Fletcher, Weaverville, Black Mountain, Mills River, Brevard and Waynesville.
How the project runs
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01
Assessment
We determine whether the wall is load bearing and what runs inside it.
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02
Engineering and permit
Beam sized and stamped where required, permit pulled with the county.
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03
Structural work
Shoring, demolition, beam and posts set, inspected.
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04
Finish
Mechanicals rerouted, drywall, flooring, trim and paint.
Why homeowners choose Big Hills
- Licensed NC general contractorBuilding in Western North Carolina since 2018, 150 homes delivered.
- One crew, start to finishIn-house carpenters and site supervisor instead of a chain of subs you never meet.
- Fixed written scopeYou approve selections and the number before demo day, so the budget holds.
- 2-year workmanship warrantyThe same warranty we put behind the homes we build from the ground up.
Frequently asked questions
How much does removing a load-bearing wall cost?
Typically $7,000 to $25,000. A dropped beam in a single-story house sits at the low end; a flush beam under a second story with plumbing and ductwork to reroute sits at the top.
How do I know if the wall is load bearing?
Direction of the joists above, what is stacked over it, and whether it sits over a beam or footing below. We check the attic and crawlspace - it takes about fifteen minutes and it is not something to guess at.
Do I need a permit?
Yes. Structural changes require a permit and inspection in Buncombe, Henderson and the surrounding counties. We pull it and meet the inspector.
Can the ceiling stay flat?
Yes, with a flush beam set inside the ceiling framing. It costs more than a dropped beam because the joists have to be hung off it, and it is the difference between an opening that looks original and one that looks added.
Get a free in-home estimate
Tell us about the project. We walk the space, talk through scope and materials, and send a written estimate — no charge, no pressure.