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Thinking ahead to the house I'll be moving back into in October. Rather than putting my bed back in what was the "marital bedroom" on the second floor, I'd really like to make a Master Suite out of the 2 rooms and bath on the ground floor. Currently one room has a door, the other room is just open as you walk in the front door and through the front hallway -- it was probably originally intended as a den or maybe even a living area.

Anyway, in order to do this Master Suite idea, I need to have a wall with a door in it put up across that front entrance hallway, which is maybe 4-ish' wide. It doesn't seem like something that would be terribly difficult but it's totally beyond my abilities, which are strictly limited to watching HGTV.

Looking up local "contractors" online and in the yp gets me so many businesses, but I don't want a major reno or anything even approaching that, I just want one wall (with a door). I'm concerned that going with the "handyman" classified listings might get someone who may be okay at lots of things but will not put up a proper wall (with a door) that looks like it belongs there, ya know?

So how might I go about finding the right type of person or business for this job? I've already asked around to a few friends and co-workers, but so far no one seems to have any ideas for something this limited in scope.

Disclaimer: I've never done this.

Angie's list? Call a local remodeling company and ask them for an estimate.

If you're looking to add the new wall to the old wall (so it's a longer wall). I would definately use someone who's work you can see. It's hard to join/match and get it perfect- a professional or someone really good with dryall installation.

If you can find a door to fill the opening and not deal with the drywall, then a handyman should be able to install a door.

Good luck.

While there are handyman types that could handle this (I have a good friend who could), you should really find a good contractor-either one whose work you've seen or one recommended by a good friend. It's more than dry wall; you need a framer too. Do you even know if the existing walls are dry wall? If it's an older house, they could be plaster. (BTDT) Finally, it will need to be painted; you could do this yourself, but maybe you're not inclined?

Check around; make sure they're licensed and bonded (insured). Check the BBB but don't rely on them solely. Word of mouth is your best bet.

Thanks! The space is too wide for just a door. I'm putting a wall across a hallway, not extending a wall, so I'd like the wall and the baseboard to match (as much as possible) so the new wall looks like it belongs there.

I'm not a big fan of angie -- I subscribed while I was living with Dad in Pittsburgh and needed so many things done to his house for him. In a big city like that, it was sometimes a helpful site. The listings here in smallville are so limited as to be mostly worthless IMO and I hate paying for nothing. I guess I can start by calling the big-name contractor companies that say they do residential work, and if my job's too small, maybe they can give me a reference to an individual contractor or something like that.

Edited to add another answer -- house was built in '88 and is drywall. Yes, I'd need the whole thing framed, drywall, even painted, altho I could probably handle that part myself

[This message edited by ISPIFFD at 10:29 AM, July 15th (Tuesday)]

You are likely going to need to run electrical in that wall a well. I'd really just call a couple "real" contractors and have them come over and walk it with you. They'll have a ton of ideas, and all kinds of pitfalls you have yet to think about, lol. From there, you'll have more info, understand the scope of the project more clearly, and then figure out what trade(s) you need. You could easily serve as the General on this yourself, and just hire a framer and an electrician. But, I think you might want to talk to some pros first.

Another way to check out contractors - your bank. They don't work with contractors that are not reputable. It might be worth asking your bank for reliable contractors.

I know many people hate Facebook, but that is where I got the recommendation for the contractor I'm using for our current job. I asked friends fornames of local people who did work for them. I'm very satisfied.