New DIYers - would you tear down a wall by yourself?

[Anonymous]

As long as you're positive that its not a structural wall then go for it. Our first demo was ripping out a non structural wall between our dining & living room. Shut off your central air unit so its not sucking up dust. Tape a plastic shower liner on any interior doorway so dust isn't floating down the hall and go for it! I do suggest going slow and not just sledgehammering the whole thing... We worked in sections, pulling out dry wall then any insulation, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We do want pros to do the finish work- thing is, we're moving for my career, DH doesn't yet have a job there- so although money isn't tight now, it very well could be. I'd rather save the money for nice touches. And we did test for lead during the inspection-we have an in any and we're overly cautious-and it turned up negative. It is an old house, built in early 1900s. Beautiful.

You are going to rip a wall out of house built in the early 1900s, likely with balloon construction? You have no idea what you are getting nto. The first piece of plaster (and it will be plaster) will be attached to metal lathe and could rip out far more than the wall. The DIY is fine for newer construction and drywall but you are opening a can of worms tinkering around with an early 20th Century house and not knowing how to do it correctly.