How to Cut a Wall Out for a Kitchen-to-Living Room Countertop

Cutting out a wall to provide a space for a pass-through countertop from your kitchen to the living room creates a space that opens up both rooms without removal of the entire wall in the process. Demolishing the wall area is a simple process, with a reciprocating saw making quick work of the wall area needing removal. You must take care, however, to avoid any utility conduits running through the walls. Otherwise, without the proper precautions, you could cut through wiring or pipes and cause enough damage to make your countertop a very expensive project when repair costs are included.

Chalk
Stud finder
Utility knife
Claw hammer
Chisel
Heavy work gloves
Reciprocating saw with metal cutting blade

Instructions

- 1
  Mark the location of the corners of your opening onto the wall, using a piece of chalk.
- 2
  Locate the nearest wall studs outside your marked corners with a stud finder. Move the stud finder over the wall until the indicator shows the presence of studs, and then draw a light line down the walls along their length. Run the stud finder over the rest of the proposed opening area to locate any wires or pipes running through the wall, as well. Mark down their location with the chalk.
- 3
  Cut the power to any electrical wiring running through the wall from the circuit breaker. Turn off the water to any pipes passing through the location as well. Both wiring and piping will need rerouting after completing your cut.
- 4
  Score the surface of the wall with a utility knife down the center of the two wall studs and along the ceiling where it meets the wall. This line will help you to avoid damaging the wall outside the removal area.
- 5
  Take the side of a claw hammer and break a hole through the surface of the wall inside the two scored lines if dealing with drywall. If the wall surface is made of plaster and lath, use a hammer and chisel to make your first break. Aim the break at a point where there are no marked studs, wires or pipes.
- 6
  Enlarge the hole to the point at which you can insert the blade of a reciprocating saw, using either the side of the hammer or the hammer and chisel.
- 7
  Insert the saw blade into the hole and then cut away the wall covering in sections of about 2-by-2-feet, avoiding any wires, pipes or wall studs. The blade will cut smoothly through any lath present supporting plaster walls, whether the lath is wood or metal. Pull the sections from the studs that they’re attached to using your hands, leaving any mounting nails still in place. Wear heavy work gloves during this process to avoid injury to your hands.
- 8
  Continue to remove the surface of the wall until you reach the scored lines. The wall will snap off at the scored cuts, leaving the rest of the wall undamaged.
- 9
  Cut off the wall studs within the new space, using the reciprocating saw. The saw blade will cut through the nails holding the studs in position. New studs and half-wall framework will need to be built to support the countertop at the specified height and location.
- 10
  Repeat the removal process from the other side, scoring the wall and then breaking and cutting sway the wall covering to complete the opening process.

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