We're in the process of doing some renovations in the basement and are thinking of moving the laundry room to what was previously the pantry (bottom right in the picture). To achieve this, we want to demolish the wall between the hallway and the pantry, and eventually build a new interior wall aligned with the wall between the boiler room and current laundry room.
What we are certain of is that the wall does not have any load-bearing function for the above floor structure (as it rests on the heart wall that runs parallel to the long side). What we are unsure about, however, is whether the wall is needed to withstand the earth pressure. The wall consists of 15 cm plastered concrete block and the outer wall consists of 25 cm concrete block. The ground level at the outer wall is just over 120 cm above the floor level in the basement, and all walls seem to rest on a footing of ~15x55cm.
Spontaneously, it feels like it should be fine, as the wall by the storage room doesn't seem to have any issues resisting earth pressure despite the ground level being a few decimeters higher and there being a parking lot right outside.
What do you think, is it safe to demolish the wall?
If I understand you correctly, you are going to move a wall a few meters? Can't you build the new wall first before you demolish? Then the new wall will help hold against any potential ground pressure.
Well, I've been considering that too. But I'm going to break up the existing floor and pour a new one, and ideally, I'd like the new wall to stand on the new slab.
But if no one complains loudly or gives me a good reason, then I also "believe" it will work out.
