Wall removal

[Bombadier]

Can you help?
We own the classic 1930s semi with a wall dividing the dining room and lounge, we want to knock a hole through!
I have drilled a hole through the wall, it's about 130mm thick, the hole I'm looking at knocking through is circa 2.5m. Could any one tell me what size lintel I would need? The wall goes up to the lift space but not to the roof. I couldn't say whether any joists are built into it.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

 

[conny]

I'm not a builder but I would suggest you check a few things out and take some measurements first.

If your bedroom floor boards run parallel to the wall you want to remove then its almost certain that the joists will either rest on the wall or be hung on joist hangers from it. To calculate the size of lintel you will also need to know the exact width it will span as well as the depth plus the size of the wall in the room above. It makes a difference if the wall is 8 foot high or 12 foot high due to the weight it will have to bare. You will also need to know how much support you need either end of the RSJ before deciding on the opening size. You can't just rest it on a pillar of about 2 bricks thick.

 

[NS215]

As a general rule, But not always the case, the joists will take the shortest span, so for example if your room is 20 foot by 10 foot, the joists will be spanning over the 10 foot length, take the carpet up in the room(s) above and obviously the joists will be running the opposite way to the floor boards

 

[tony1851]

You can't just rest it on a pillar of about 2 bricks thick.

Why not?!

 

[conny]

I believe it has to have a single solid padstone covering the landing area rather than two separate pieces.

As I said, I'm not a builder, but whenever I have read books on things like this they state a single padstone should be used.

 

[tony1851]

whenever I have read books on things like this they state a single padstone should be used.

Yes, in most cases that's right.
If his opening is only 2.5m wide, the beam won't be carrying too much weight - probably the triangle of brickwork above, and perhaps part of the floor if it bears on the wall. A 9" padstone each end would be fine.