Removing a load-bearing wall adds engineering, a structural permit and one to three weeks on site to a kitchen remodel. Here is where the time goes.
Removing a load-bearing wall adds two things to a kitchen remodel: a structural engineering and permit stage before any demolition, and a stretch of structural work on site, typically one to three weeks, before cabinets can go in. The engineering and plan review stage is the part that varies, and it can overlap with kitchen design and cabinet ordering. Decided early, the wall barely moves your finish date; decided late, it can stall the whole kitchen.
Where the extra time actually goes
Opening the kitchen to the living or family room is the most common structural request we get in Los Angeles. The cutting is the short part. Here is how the added work breaks out.
StepWhat happensEffect on the kitchen scheduleStructural engineeringAn engineer sizes the beam, posts and any new footings.Adds lead time up front, but runs in parallel with kitchen design.Permit and plan reviewPlans go to LADBS or your city's building department for structural review, and any corrections are answered.The most variable step. Nothing structural starts until the permit is issued.Shoring and beam installationTemporary walls carry the ceiling, the old wall comes out, the beam and posts go in and the load is transferred.Usually a matter of days for a simple single-story opening.Structural inspectionThe inspector checks the beam, posts, connections and footings before anything is covered.A scheduling pause at the opening. Work continues elsewhere in the kitchen.Reroutes and patchingWiring, vents or ducts that lived in the wall are relocated. Ceiling, walls and floor are patched.Folds into the kitchen's normal rough-in and finish phases.
Engineering and permit: the stage you cannot rush on site
A bearing wall carries roof, ceiling or second-floor load down to the foundation. Take it out and that load needs a new path: a beam across the opening, a post at each end, and something solid under each post. The engineer's job is to size all three. Sometimes the drawings call for a new pad footing, which means cutting the slab or digging in the crawlspace.
Structural changes need a building permit, and the plans go through review before one is issued. How long that takes depends on the jurisdiction, the workload at the counter and how complete the submittal is. In City of Los Angeles neighborhoods such as Sherman Oaks or Woodland Hills, that means LADBS. Cities like Calabasas and Pasadena run their own building departments with their own process.
We do not promise a fixed number of days for plan review, because no contractor controls it. What we control is submitting a complete package and answering corrections quickly.
What happens on site once the permit is issued
Floors are protected and the area is sealed off. We build temporary shoring walls on both sides so the ceiling joists are carried the whole time. The wall is stripped, the utilities inside it are made safe, and the studs come out.
Then the beam goes in, with posts at each end and the hardware the engineer specified, down to the footing. Once the load is on the new beam, the inspector looks at everything while it is still exposed. After sign-off, the opening can be closed up.
For a single-story house with a straightforward opening, the structural portion usually fits in the early part of the one-to-three-week window we list on our load-bearing wall removal page. Second-floor loads, long spans and steel push toward the longer end. The kitchen is not idle meanwhile: demolition and rough plumbing and electrical in the other walls move ahead while the opening waits for its inspection.
What is inside the wall matters as much as what sits on top
The wall between a kitchen and a living room is rarely empty. On jobs like this we usually find some mix of the following:
- Switches, outlets and the cables feeding them.
- The plumbing vent for the kitchen sink.
- A gas line to the range or to an old wall heater.
- A supply or return duct for the heating and cooling system.
Each one needs a new route. A vent can often move to a nearby wall, and a duct may go through the attic or a small soffit. None of this is dramatic, but it is the reason we open an inspection hole before we price the job, not after.
The floor is the other half. Where the wall stood, there is a strip with no finished flooring. Hardwood can be woven in and refinished, but tile patches rarely disappear. In most kitchen remodels the cleanest answer is new flooring run continuously through the combined space, decided at the design stage.
Beam choices that change the schedule
- Dropped beam. It sits below the ceiling line and slides in under intact joists, so it is the fastest and least invasive option. It can be wrapped in drywall or wood.
- Flush beam. It is hidden in the ceiling for one uninterrupted plane. Every joist is cut and hung from it, so there is more labor and more ceiling patching.
- Steel beam or steel posts. These are used for long spans or heavier loads such as a second floor. Fabrication lead time and heavier handling add days.
- Partial opening with a header. A wide cased opening instead of full removal. Utilities can sometimes stay in the wall sections that remain.
How we sequence it so the kitchen does not wait
Our kitchen remodel timeline guide covers the standard phases. This is the checklist we use to keep the structural work off the critical path:
- Decide on the wall at the very start of design, not after the cabinet layout is drawn.
- Get the inspection hole and the engineer's site visit done before the layout is final, because post locations affect cabinet runs and island placement.
- Submit structural plans while cabinets and appliances are being selected. Cabinet lead time and plan review can run at the same time.
- Schedule demolition so shoring and the beam are the first work on site after the permit is issued.
- Run kitchen rough-in in the other walls while the opening waits for its structural inspection.
On the budget side, the wall counts as a layout change, which is the biggest cost lever in any kitchen. Our post on kitchen remodel cost factors explains why. If you are thinking about opening up your kitchen, request a free written estimate. We will look at the wall, tell you what it most likely carries, and put the scope and sequence in writing. After the remodel, our in-house handyman crew takes care of the small follow-up items.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my kitchen wall is load-bearing?
You cannot tell for certain from the room. Clues include a wall that runs perpendicular to the ceiling joists or sits near the middle of the house. The reliable way is to look in the attic or open a small inspection hole and see what rests on the top plate. We do that on the site visit, and the engineer confirms it.
How long does load-bearing wall removal take?
On site, we typically plan one to three weeks after the permit is issued, covering shoring, beam and post installation, inspection, utility reroutes and patching. Steel, long spans or second-floor loads take longer. The engineering and plan review that come first are separate and vary by jurisdiction, so we start them as early as possible.
Do I need a permit to remove a load-bearing wall in Los Angeles?
Yes. Removing or altering a bearing wall is structural work, and it requires a building permit with engineered plans and an inspection before the framing is covered. In City of Los Angeles neighborhoods the permit goes through LADBS, and other cities use their own building departments. We pull the permit under our own license and meet the inspector on site.
Can I stay in the house while the wall is removed?
In most single-story homes, yes. The shoring carries the ceiling the entire time, and the work area is sealed off with dust barriers. Expect a few loud, dusty days during demolition and beam setting. If the wall carries a second floor, we review with the engineer whether any rooms above should stay empty during the load transfer.
Will removing a wall delay my cabinet order?
It should not, if the decision is made early. Cabinets can be designed and ordered while the structural plans are in review, as long as the engineer has already fixed the post locations and beam depth. What causes delay is deciding on the wall after cabinets are ordered, because posts, soffits and the new opening can change cabinet runs, island position and even appliance locations.