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Tools and materials
Pickaxe, cold chisel, mallet, small beam to use as lintel, wooden strips, metal rods, a level, small shovel, trowel, plaster and paint. Bags for the rubble.

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In load-bearing walls
o These are the ones that sustain the weight of a building's structure.
o To make an opening in one of these walls, you need to have a plan designed by an architect and approved by your building association if you live in a high-rise. You will also need a building permit.

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o If the walls are not old they will probably be made of tiles or bricks, then covered with plaster of about 10 cm.
o Walls of older buildings are probably made of solid bricks and mortar. You may also come across wooden stanchions that you will have to remove carefully.
o Trace the outline of the opening on the wall.
o Drill holes all along the line with a long bit that goes all the way through the wall. You can also use a radial drill but this is more difficult if you don't have experience. But will make knocking the wall down easier.
o If there are no impediments and the wall is in good shape, you can hit it with a cold chisel and mallet, or with a pickaxe, until you have knocked down the section you've marked off.
o If the wall is not in good condition, you may need to dig a groove in the upper part and imbed a small beam or lintel of steel, concrete or wooden from one side of the opening to the other in order to keep the upper part of the wall from caving in while you bang away. Make sure the beam is level.

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o Many modern walls are made of hollow panels of laminated plaster. The structure is formed by vertical and horizontal frameworks of aluminium or wood, with inner insulation.
o As in the previous case, draw the outline of the hole on the wall and drill from one end to the other. Removing the remains of the panels will be very easy.
o You will probably have to cut a stanchion of the structure of the hollow wall. Do it carefully, and in its place, as a frame, install horizontal and vertical uprights of wood or aluminium. Screw them into place, or anchor them with plaster or polyurethane foam.

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Finishing off
o You should finish off all sides to get rid of rough edges.
o Put in place metal or wooden rods, fastening them with a bit of plaster. This way you can redo the space perfectly and make it even with the rest of the wall.
o This task is done with plaster, and if necessary with pieces of tile. If you are going to put a wooden frame around the space, do this after it has dried. Finally. You can paint it to make it look like the rest of the wall.

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