Utah boasts many privately owned homes and businesses that have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Utah has 66 historic districts in both urban and rural communities, with hundreds of listed properties.
If you own a historic house in Utah, you know that every creak and corner tells a story. That’s why historic home renovation is more than a fresh coat of paint. It’s about preserving the character while bringing your home up to date.
Many Utah homeowners want open spaces, but removing walls in old homes isn’t as simple as swinging a hammer. There are special rules, surprises behind the plaster, and plenty of risks if you get it wrong.
What Makes Historic Home Renovation Different?
Homes built before 1940 make up about 12% of the US housing stock. Many are in Salt Lake City, Ogden, and even small towns across Utah. Sometimes, these houses can fetch a better median resale value than several modern ones.
Every old home has a story and historic value that needs to be preserved. When you do custom home renovations on a place that’s 70 or even 100 years old, especially something like removing walls, you’ve to think it through.
Old homes are like classic cars, beautiful, full of memories, but they need extra care. Historic homes in Utah were built with different materials and methods. Sometimes, old walls hide knob-and-tube wiring, lead paint, or brick-and-mortar construction. If you rush in, you can damage your home’s value or break local laws.
What Makes “Old Home” Walls Different?
Walls in older Utah homes aren’t like the ones in newer ones. Instead of just drywall and 2x4s, you might have:
- Brick or plaster walls.
- Heavy wood studs (sometimes even rough-cut lumber).
- Old pipes, knob-and-tube wiring, or thick layers of old paint hidden inside.
Most importantly, many of these walls are load-bearing. That means they help hold up your roof or floors. If you cut into one by mistake, everything above might start to sag, or worse.
Are Special Rules Required for Historic Home Renovation?
The short answer is yes. Historic homes usually have extra rules for remodeling, especially if they’re listed on the National Register of Historic Places or a local landmark list. In Salt Lake City and other Utah towns, city codes protect historic homes from major changes that could wreck their character or stability.
Some of these special rules may include:
- Building Codes: Every wall you remove needs to meet today’s safety standards. In cities like Salt Lake, Provo, or Ogden, there are extra codes for homes built before 1950.
- Historic District Rules: Many Utah neighborhoods have historic zones. If your house is listed or protected, you’ll need city approval before major changes. Sometimes, you can’t remove certain walls at all.
- Permits: You can’t skip permits. The city inspects your work and can make you rebuild if something isn’t safe. Removing a load-bearing wall without a permit can lead to safety risks, fines, or even legal issues.
- Engineering Reports: If you want to remove a wall, you’ll need engineering reports. A home renovation company will bring in an engineer to check if a wall is load-bearing. Some old homes use solid wood or brick walls that carry weight differently than modern studs.
Tips for Removing Walls in Old Homes
If you want to do home renovation in an old or historic property, here are a few rules and tips you need to know:
1. Get the Right Permits
You can’t just start knocking down walls, even if it’s not a historic house. But if your home is registered as a historic property, you’ll need approval from the local historic preservation office or board. They’ll check to see if your plans will harm any special features.
In Utah, getting permits for removing walls in old homes can take longer than for a regular remodel. Factor this into your timeline, and plan as much ahead of time as you can.
2. Work with an Expert Home Renovation Contractor
Not every contractor understands what’s inside walls from 1920 or how to update a brick foundation. Hire a home renovation company that has a track record of removing walls from older homes.
Look for recent reviews, pictures, and proof of construction knowledge. The right contractor will know how to support your ceiling with temporary beams and install new LVL or steel beams that can safely carry the load.
3. Respect the Original Materials
When you do custom home renovations in a historic property, the city might require you to save or reuse trim, windows, or doors. That doesn’t mean you can’t open up your floor plan, but you may need to move special pieces instead of dumping them. Keeping old woodwork or brick adds more value to your remodel.
4. Be Prepared for Hidden Problems Inside the Wall
Old homes often hide plumbing, electrical, or support beams in strange spots. Your wall might look like an empty divider, but inside it could be full of heavy pipes or ancient wiring. Sometimes walls have no insulation, mold, or even animal nests. Your home renovation contractor needs to know how to tackle these issues.
5. Thicker Walls Mean More Work
Most historic homes have brick or plaster walls, which are harder to cut than drywall. If you want to keep part of a wall as an “archway” (a popular look for Utah craftsman homes), you’ll need to hire a pro to make the opening clean and safe.
6. Stick with Quality
Whether you’re removing a load-bearing wall or redoing the kitchen, stick to quality work. Cheap fixes look bad and might do more harm than good in the long run. A well-done remodel with the right beams and proper finish will keep your home safe and keep its value high.
The Bottom Line
Historic home renovation in Utah brings old homes to life, but you must be careful. If you get the right permits and work with a contractor renowned for removing walls in old homes, you can keep the things you love while building the space you need.
Are you ready to make your old Utah home fit your life today? Load Bearing Pros might be the contractor you need. We’ve worked with old homes in and around Utah.
Call (385) 300-8322 today or fill out our online form to see how we can help you with old home renovation.