This is the week we finally open up the wall — the big wall-opening week. Before the crew arrives, we wanted to answer a few common questions we’ve been asked:
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- How we chose our contractor
- How we handled permits
- How we determined the exact spot for the opening
We enjoy DIY projects, but when it comes to cutting an 8-foot opening in the center of the house and installing a heavy-duty header, we preferred to hire a professional. We’ve done small, non-structural demo before — like creating a laundry nook in our first house — but anything that affects the structural integrity of the home is worth bringing in someone with years of experience.
A strong, properly placed header and correct floor support are critical. We’re happy to tackle the cosmetic and non-structural tasks ourselves, but we wanted an expert for the load-bearing work. That approach — choosing which projects to DIY and which to hire out — is how we try to avoid costly mistakes.
To find the right contractor we:
- asked friends and family for recommendations and posted a request on Facebook for local referrals
- reviewed the websites and portfolios of about ten contractors to learn more about their work
- narrowed the list to four candidates based on referrals and site information
- requested in-person estimates from all four contractors
All four contractors came quickly and provided written estimates. We told each that we were collecting multiple bids so they would offer competitive pricing. Each estimate covered the same scope: removing the 8-foot section of wall between the kitchen and dining room, installing a support beam above the doorway, adding floor support, reframing the doorway and threshold, building a knee wall for the peninsula, patching or adding drywall, and installing door jambs and trim on both sides of the opening.
Here’s how the bids compared:
- Contractor #1: nearly $4,000
- Contractor #2: around $3,200
- Contractor #3: $650–$1,000 (depending on materials)
- Contractor #4: $700 if we handled drywall, jambs, and trim; $950 if we did not
The range was surprising, especially since all four were licensed, insured, and experienced. The higher bids appeared to reflect contractors who typically handle much larger projects like major additions, which helps explain their pricing and included line items such as dumpster rental. Two of the contractors stood out to us personally: Contractor #3, a father-son team who does work with Habitat for Humanity, and Contractor #4, a friend-of-a-friend with over 30 years of experience.
In the end we chose Contractor #4. We liked the familiarity and the decades of experience he and his team offered. He also welcomed us doing the non-structural finish work ourselves, which saved money and let us handle the trim and drywall to our own standards. The price of $700 (with us doing the finish work) felt fair compared to the higher estimates.
About permits: from the beginning we expected a permit would be required, and the local fee is modest. Before paying, however, we called the plan review office and spoke with a plan reviewer named Jay. Based on the house being a single-story ranch and the fact that there had been an old doorway in roughly the same location decades ago, Jay determined a permit wasn’t necessary for our specific situation. That saved us time and expense. Permit requirements vary by jurisdiction, so check with your local building department before proceeding on projects that change structure or load-bearing elements.
Choosing the exact placement of the opening involved planning the peninsula and appliance layout. We needed to build in the refrigerator and relocate an existing 36-inch cabinet so the peninsula would fall in the right spot. Finding a corner cabinet at the ReStore allowed us to position key pieces and visualize how the peninsula would align against that wall.
To finalize the opening location we taped off where an 18-inch cabinet would end, brought in four chairs to simulate seating at the peninsula, and ensured about four feet of clear walking space beyond the stools. We aligned the opening so one side would begin where the peninsula begins — this deliberate alignment helps the new doorway look intentional and balanced. Centering the 8-foot opening with the dining room’s large picture window should make it feel like it has always been part of the layout.
We opted for a short half-wall at the peninsula edge rather than a full open doorway with cabinetry accessible from the dining room. Our reasons:
- We didn’t want the peninsula to look like an afterthought inserted into a doorway.
- The half-wall grounds the peninsula and makes it feel solid and supported instead of floating.
- Existing built-ins in the dining room already provide base cabinet storage, so extra cabinetry there would be redundant.
- Adding more built-ins near the existing wall of storage would feel crowded.
- A half-wall creates a more seamless threshold; without it, there would likely be an awkward strip of flooring between the peninsula cabinet and the dining room floor.
That’s the plan. We’ll be sharing demo photos soon — if everything goes to plan, expect pictures within 48 hours. What big projects are you tackling this week? Any fun plans for the weekend? Tell us all about it.
P.S. The groomsman photo mentioned in the original post was taken by David Abel.