Upstairs partition wall

Robwirral · 1 Sep 2015

Good evening chaps... Looking for a bit of advice, before my house falls down.
Basically moved into this house (150 years old) this year. Now I've just started a refit on my bathroom, which the room itself was added sometime by splitting the bigger bedroom. Now I'm a bit worried in that the partition wall has been built in what looks like breeze blocks (under the plaster) but it has just been built on top of the floorboards with a joist running directly underneath. Surely this can't be strong enough? If I start tiling the wall is it likely to end up in my kitchen? Does it need to come down and be studded?
Thanks in advance

ree · 2 Sep 2015

Lots of past stud partition walls were built with in-fills of light weight thermal block - but a masonry "breeze block" partition could be a different animal?

Is there any sign on the ceiling below of bulging? Run a level across the ceiling and the bathroom floor.

Does the floor on either side of the breeze block creak or bounce?

Are there gaps where the partition meets the floor or ceiling - or any cracks in the partition?

Does the bathroom door open and close easily?

Robwirral · 2 Sep 2015

Thanks for the reply,
With regards to the block, maybe it is the lightweight block, I would say its only about 3" deep , then with a half inch layer of plaster either side.
But under the wall I can see a gap underneath, about the thickness of a filling knife. Also the floor has dropped on this side of the bathroom. But the ceiling underneath looks like its had some work done where the wall is. I'm guessing it's not looking good then.? I was just hoping it had moved on fitting then settled.
Cheers

ree · 3 Sep 2015

Do you want further advice?

Robwirral · 3 Sep 2015

in regards to you saying the block could be lightweight, I had bit of a search and as you say, it looks like that was quite common back in the day to build the walls on floorboards.
I had a bit more of a poke and look around it. There is no cracks that I can see, but it looks like it has had a fresh'ish skim. The floorboards don't have much movement, and its still tight to the ceiling (no cracks). Just a bit strange in that it appears to be floating above the floorboards in some places, does or should this happen, and is it likely to stay like that.
Help much appreciated
Thanks

theprinceofdarkness · 4 Sep 2015

I have a wall similar to yours. These walls are extremely strong but, if like mine it moves it will crack away from the main house wall. With my one it was built on the edge of floorboards cantilevered out about 4" from a joist. So I supported it while I chopped out 6" from the base of it and inserted a 6" X 2" joist that sat onto a 4" X 4" post down to the ground floor.
Frank

ree · 4 Sep 2015

Its really hard to say much about the future stability of what you have - personally, i'm always suspicious when i see the signs you've noticed around the lintelled area - esp any indications of a floor dropping.

However, if the new tile is going in a shower stall or over a tub then you will be taking a slight risk of further movement breaking the "water seal".

Any remedial works such as lifting boards and sistering joists or strengthening below the partition wall would be perhaps a remedy too far?

FWIW: any sloping floor should have been picked up by the house sale mortgage surveyor - so: either the movement is more recent since you bought the place or the surveyor missed the fault(s) at the time of sale?

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Upstairs partition wall

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