Mystery bolt. Advice please!!

[jdw1234]

Morning chaps and chappesses.

I have moved in with gfriend and am looking at redecorating.

However, on a few of the interior walls, there are random bolts sticking out.

I am guessing they are either bracing the masonary (bad) or plaster (less bad).

The building is an ex local authority 1920’s building.

I have attached 3 pictures to give you an idea of what I mean.

Exterior of building



Bolt



Bolt close up




Has anyone here ever seen this type of thing?

Does anyone know if they can be removed or replaced with anything less intrusive?

Many thanks in advance for any help received.

[Plotloss]

Wall tie?

[dan1981]

There's a mildly aroused bloke plastered behind your wall......

Edited by dan1981 on Friday 15th August 10:45

[Logie]

dan1981 said:

Theres a mildly aroused bloke plastered behind your wall......

[filski666]

I think if they were bracing the masonry they would have big Xs on them or similar shape to spread the load (and if holding the walls together they would have bars running through the room to the other side of the house!)

Might just be a remnant of something from previous use of house - you said it was local authority? - maybe it is where they hung Poll Tax protesters

Try taking one off and seeing what happens!!

Edited by filski666 on Friday 15th August 10:47

[jdw1234]

dan1981 said:

There's a mildly aroused bloke plastered behind your wall......

Edited by dan1981 on Friday 15th August 10:45

You have the same sense of humour as the missus!

I tried hitting it with a hammer and there was no yell of pain so that can't be it!

[aussiebruce]

just cut them off with a angle grinder

[filski666]

dan1981 said:

There's a mildly aroused bloke plastered behind your wall......

Edited by dan1981 on Friday 15th August 10:45

I was trying to avoid making comments like that - thanks for doing it for me!

[jdw1234]

filski666 said:

I think if they were bracing the masonry they would have big Xs on them or similar shape to spread the load (and if holding the walls together they would have bars running through the room to the other side of the house!)

Might just be a remnant of something from previous use of house

Try taking one off and seeing what happens!!

Thats what I though, its just a bolt.

I think I might need someone to look at it. The girlfriend would be mildly cross if I took one out and the old lady from upstairs drops through in her bathtub.

[filski666]

jdw1234 said:

filski666 said:

I think if they were bracing the masonry they would have big Xs on them or similar shape to spread the load (and if holding the walls together they would have bars running through the room to the other side of the house!)

Might just be a remnant of something from previous use of house

Try taking one off and seeing what happens!!

Thats what I though, its just a bolt.

I think I might need someone to look at it. The girlfriend would be mildly cross if I took one out and the old lady from upstairs drops through in her bathtub.

really? - I would laugh my arse off if something like that happened!

[jdw1234]

aussiebruce said:

just cut them off with a angle grinder

Seems like a good idea to me.

[jdw1234]

filski666 said:

jdw1234 said:

filski666 said:

I think if they were bracing the masonry they would have big Xs on them or similar shape to spread the load (and if holding the walls together they would have bars running through the room to the other side of the house!)

Might just be a remnant of something from previous use of house

Try taking one off and seeing what happens!!

Thats what I though, its just a bolt.

I think I might need someone to look at it. The girlfriend would be mildly cross if I took one out and the old lady from upstairs drops through in her bathtub.

really? - I would laugh my arse off if something like that happened!

And me. :-)


Many thanks for the advice chaps.

[filski666]

jdw1234 said:

aussiebruce said:

just cut them off with a angle grinder

Seems like a good idea to me.

it looks like a bit of studding with a nut on (can't really tell from picture) - you could grind it back to the nut then hang a picture/bookcase over it or something (if you were worried about the surprise visitation from said old lady upstairs)

[fatboy b]

Have you ever seen the film Porkies?

[filski666]

fatboy b said:

Have you ever seen the film Porkies?

get some old hag (Claire Balding) to grab it and pull it then!

[Parrot of Doom]

If it was a wall brace wouldn't it run all the way through the house and to the back wall?

[Smart roadster]

Could it be a blanked off gas pipe or some such. The square head makes it look like a blanking plug rather than a bolt.
I'd scrape the paint off to see if it is a pipe lurking under there.

[davido140]

Smart roadster said:

Could it be a blanked off gas pipe or some such. The square head makes it look like a blanking plug rather than a bolt.
I'd scrape the paint off to see if it is a pipe lurking under there.

What he said!

Could be an old gas fitting, is 1920's too new to have had gas lighting?

[sleep envy]

does it have a square head on the threaded cover?

if so it's a pipe for gas lighting

angle grind it out and plaster over

[Smart roadster]

If it is gas I'd advise checking if it is live before going at with an angle grinder. I know the chances are it's dead but you never know how much of a bodger the previous owners were. Unscrew the plug if it hisses screw it back in and call the cavalry. If it doesn't hiss/smell of gas grind it to you hearts content.