load bearing pillar

[pdug175]

Hi

my plumber has really butchered a load bearing pillar when laying his pipes through to my new extension. Is this something I should be worried about? It seems there is a large amount pressure concentrated upon a very small area. Any suggestions or am I exaggerating the issue? Thanks


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[Paul348]

I am no builder but to me that looks very bad .

I would get a structural engineer around to have a look at that if i was you and stop you Plummer doing any more work in that area.

 

[lostinfens]

It looks like your plumber has made a bad job of an awful nib. The wall should really have been taken back & the nib rebuilt instead of the chopped out bit of cavity that is left. I think you need to get both your builder & plumber back & have them fight it out, because they're both culpable.
It looks to me, from your picture that you've had an extension & the steel is supporting the rest of your brickwork & anything else included. If this is the case, then I for one would be a little concerned as to the suitability of the remaining brickwork- did your B.I. pass that in its' pre plumber state?
If he did then,I think your plumber has some explaining to do and some serious making good too.

 

[^woody^]

Typical plumber bish bosh bash. Gas Safe concentrates on preventing members blowing houses up with a gas torch, but forgets about them knocking houses down with a lump hammer

Anyway, the load from that beam is not going straight down but is going diagonally across the wall, so the plumbers handiwork is not going to matter too much - assuming that there is some more of the existing house on the other side of the new extension wall

Even so, have the pipes sleeved and then make good the hole and also have the cavity filled

 

[ChapiTheBricky]

If your butt is tied in it shouldn't be too bad but I would make a quick shutter(jam a bit timber in the cavity) and fill with concrete

 

[mointainwalker]

".. I would make a quick shutter(jam a bit timber in the cavity) and fill with concrete "

Presumably that would be after sleeving the copper pipes ?

 

[ChapiTheBricky]

yes mate

 

[pdug175]

well thanks for the replies. The BI never raised the issue so I'll be having a word with the plumber. If sleeving the copper and filling the void with concrete will add acceptable integrity to the peir and my builder agrees I'll let him do that. Failing that it may need toothing out and rebuilding further out.

 

[lostinfens]

I agree with Woodys appreciation of the approach of the plumbing fraternity to anything structural,and his assertions as to the loading of the wall. But there is in fact not a deal of wall for the "diagonal thrust" to rely upon. If you doubt this, then why don't you knock out the remaining brickwork adjacent to the pipework, - I dare you.

Typical plumber bish bosh bash. Gas Safe concentrates on preventing members blowing houses up with a gas torch, but forgets about them knocking houses down with a lump hammer

Anyway, the load from that beam is not going straight down but is going diagonally across the wall, so the plumbers handiwork is not going to matter too much - assuming that there is some more of the existing house on the other side of the new extension wall

If there were no need for the supporting nib, & it is debatable, then why leave it there? The fact is that the padstone sits not on the existing wall but on the nib & the nib has been compromised-poorly. Having said that, Woody is hopefully correct & it will probably never fail, but it is not right & I wouldn't do it, nor would I accept it.