be vigilant! Do not touch the four major minefields in decoration, demolition, and renovation!

In the process of decoration, demolition and renovation, when determining whether a certain building structure can be changed, do not consider it from an aesthetic perspective first, but from a safety perspective. If there are safety hazards in structural demolition and renovation, do not adopt or implement it. So what are the “pitfalls” of renovation and demolition projects? Today, the editor will explain it to everyone.

Minefield 1 load-bearing wall

After the decoration personnel enter the site for briefing, it is necessary to dismantle and modify the walls and bury pipelines. In the process of demolishing and renovating walls, many homeowners often like to dismantle load-bearing walls without authorization in order to achieve the overall decoration effect of the house, which is a very undesirable practice.

In general brick and concrete structures, all prefabricated panel walls are load-bearing walls and cannot be removed or opened with doors and windows. Brick walls exceeding 24 centimeters are also considered load-bearing walls. When decorating, do not move the load-bearing wall, and it is also not allowed to dig large holes on it.

Tip: Demolishing load-bearing walls, opening doors, windows, or thinning load-bearing walls not only directly damages and weakens the load-bearing capacity of the load-bearing walls, but also damages the overall integrity and seismic resistance of the building. It may also cause adjacent walls to become loose and crack, resulting in a decrease in wall strength and bearing capacity, as well as cracks in the walls and floors of the upper and lower floors, causing structural damage. If an earthquake occurs, such walls and floors are prone to collapse or fracture.

Minefield 2 Gas Pipeline

Residents or decoration personnel who dismantle and modify gas pipelines or seal gas valves without authorization can easily cause gas leaks. The gas pipeline is sealed, making it difficult to detect gas leaks, and the leaked gas is also less likely to spread and accumulate locally. Before use, there is no professional safety inspection, and any open flame will inevitably cause an explosion.

Reminder: Gas facilities have strict technical specifications and safety requirements in design and installation, and must be constructed by professional personnel. If residents really need to modify the gas pipeline when renovating their homes, they should apply to the gas supply unit. The gas supply unit will conduct on-site surveys and provide opinions. If modifications can be made, the gas supply unit will issue a construction plan and have professional personnel operate it. The construction personnel should have professional qualifications.

Minefield 3 Heating Pipe

It is also common to dismantle and modify heating pipes and water supply and drainage pipes during decoration. The common feature of heating pipes and water supply and drainage pipes is that these pipes form a complete system within a certain range, and each household cannot be completely independent. Therefore, when renovating such pipelines, caution should be taken, and all modifications should be based on the premise of not affecting the entire system.

Tip: Improper dismantling and modification of heating systems have many drawbacks. When the originally designed heating system is modified, the pressure will change, and the thermal balance will be disrupted, resulting in heating imbalances and causing households in the building to be hot and cold. It is difficult to guarantee that the modified heating system will not leak water.

Minefield 4 balcony ‘counterweight wall’

There are usually one door and one window on the wall between the room and the balcony, which can be removed. However, the wall below the window cannot be removed because it is a “counterweight wall” that acts like a balance to lift the balcony. Many homeowners believe that the function of the counterweight wall is not significant, as it blocks sunlight from entering the interior and affects the lighting of the living room. Therefore, it is often considered to remove the counterweight wall and create a wide pass at the balcony.

Tip: Removing the counterweight wall will reduce the load-bearing capacity of the balcony, causing it to fall. Demolishing the counterweight wall will change the original stress of the building structure, and may also lead to a decrease in the load-bearing capacity of the balcony, and even pose a risk of collapse. Some old houses have cantilevered balconies, and once their counterweight walls are removed, the wall structure that “presses” the balcony is damaged, weakening the load-bearing capacity of the balcony.