Knocking down a supporting wall
Discussion
I want to knock down a wall that used to be the outside wall of the house.
I know that i'll need a lintel/rsj putting in but have been told that i'd need to get a structural engineer to make the calculations for the correct type to put in and also submit these calculations to the council.
Is this correct? I assumed that a builder would be able to make these calculations and just install the correct thing for my needs.
I know that i'll need a lintel/rsj putting in but have been told that i'd need to get a structural engineer to make the calculations for the correct type to put in and also submit these calculations to the council.
Is this correct? I assumed that a builder would be able to make these calculations and just install the correct thing for my needs.
Borris-Bear said:
I want to knock down a wall that used to be the outside wall of the house.
I know that i'll need a lintel/rsj putting in but have been told that i'd need to get a structural engineer to make the calculations for the correct type to put in and also submit these calculations to the council.
Is this correct? I assumed that a builder would be able to make these calculations and just install the correct thing for my needs.
A builder, calculate?I know that i'll need a lintel/rsj putting in but have been told that i'd need to get a structural engineer to make the calculations for the correct type to put in and also submit these calculations to the council.
Is this correct? I assumed that a builder would be able to make these calculations and just install the correct thing for my needs.
If it goes wrong, your house will fall down, so you will need to do it properly not just for peace of mind but no doubt also for the building regs. A neighbour is having an extension built right now, meaning the whole of the lower part of the rear of his house is coming out, and it's a pretty military operation.
ETA the load at each end is increased so the foundations need to be assessed and possibly underpinned.
Edited by Simpo Two on Wednesday 21st October 10:44
YHM
As has been mentioned you need the loads to be properly calculated and the steel or lintel (unlikely) to be correctly specified for the load and the span in question. The foundations will need to be assessed and improved if necessary (what age is the property?). They will also need to take into consideration the allowable deflection over the span and the end bearing support..
As has been mentioned you need the loads to be properly calculated and the steel or lintel (unlikely) to be correctly specified for the load and the span in question. The foundations will need to be assessed and improved if necessary (what age is the property?). They will also need to take into consideration the allowable deflection over the span and the end bearing support..
Borris-Bear said:
thanks for your replies. This shows the current layout of downstairs
We want to knock the wall down between the kitchen and the spare room and remove the sliding doors for a single door.
Just out of interest, what happens upstairs - no need for a pic, but is that the garage + spare room is a single storey side extension?We want to knock the wall down between the kitchen and the spare room and remove the sliding doors for a single door.
, know that as it was in the searches we've only been in about 5 weeks.Yes you need a professional person to provide calculations for your building regulation submission.
Was the wall an old external wall then?
If so you will probably need 2 beams one for each leaf with a sleeved bolted connection between the two.
The ends will sit on padstones, there is a possibility that the inner leaf block or brick work will need rebuilding in denser grade block work.
Was the wall an old external wall then?
If so you will probably need 2 beams one for each leaf with a sleeved bolted connection between the two.
The ends will sit on padstones, there is a possibility that the inner leaf block or brick work will need rebuilding in denser grade block work.
Edited by Si 330 on Wednesday 21st October 13:20
Edited by Si 330 on Wednesday 21st October 14:11
As has been said, get a structural engineer in to assess the job and design and specify the beams.
Your local BCO will want to see the design and double check the calcs.
You can do this in advance before work starts or submit what is called a building notice and the inspector will take your drawings and check them as work progresses.
Expect to pay a few hundred quid for a few sheets of A4 with totally unfathomable equations on it which stop your house falling down.
Your local BCO will want to see the design and double check the calcs.
You can do this in advance before work starts or submit what is called a building notice and the inspector will take your drawings and check them as work progresses.
Expect to pay a few hundred quid for a few sheets of A4 with totally unfathomable equations on it which stop your house falling down.
V12Les said:
Structural engineer, Building Regs, and as its the origional external wall you'll have come off the corner half a meter before any openings can start.
Don't think this is the case ?See pic earlier, the right hand upright is the 'old' corner of the house. The wall was taken out completely, all that remains is the steel.
Vee said:
V12Les said:
Structural engineer, Building Regs, and as its the origional external wall you'll have come off the corner half a meter before any openings can start.
Don't think this is the case ?See pic earlier, the right hand upright is the 'old' corner of the house. The wall was taken out completely, all that remains is the steel.
a boardman said:
eps said:
V12Les said:
Structural engineer, Building Regs, and as its the origional external wall you'll have come off the corner half a meter before any openings can start.
Where did you pluck 500mm from???Where is 500mm mentioned? 665mm is mentioned but so is the word "should" twice... It also mentions, right at the start of the section that it may be possible to depart from the specifications, as long as calculations are provided to show that the departure is safe..
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