Hi all,
We're thinking about converting our 2 single garage doors to 1 double door by removing the brickwork separating the two doors. This brickwork is about 10" wide x 12" deep and looks like it might be supporting the wooden lintel going across the entire width of the garage. The lintel itself is approx. 10" x 10" in section, 16' long with 6" at each end embedded in the side walls.
Firstly, is it likely that the brickwork between the 2 doors is load-bearing? Would removing this mean that we needed to replace the wooden lintel with a steel RSJ, or is there some other way of strengthening the wood lintel? Assuming we had to replace it with a steel RSJ, is this something a that can be done by a reasonably competent DIY-er but with no previous building experience, or one left for the pros? Finally, roughly how much would it cost to have this work done (ballpark figure)?
Many thanks and apologies if I'm using all the wrong terminology.
We're thinking about converting our 2 single garage doors to 1 double door by removing the brickwork separating the two doors. This brickwork is about 10" wide x 12" deep and looks like it might be supporting the wooden lintel going across the entire width of the garage. The lintel itself is approx. 10" x 10" in section, 16' long with 6" at each end embedded in the side walls.
Firstly, is it likely that the brickwork between the 2 doors is load-bearing? Would removing this mean that we needed to replace the wooden lintel with a steel RSJ, or is there some other way of strengthening the wood lintel? Assuming we had to replace it with a steel RSJ, is this something a that can be done by a reasonably competent DIY-er but with no previous building experience, or one left for the pros? Finally, roughly how much would it cost to have this work done (ballpark figure)?
Many thanks and apologies if I'm using all the wrong terminology.