Trial hole to inspect foundations under an internal wall

Hi

I am planning the removal of a load bearing wall between by Kitchen and Dining Room. Both rooms have concrete slabs as floors

I have had the structural engineer out, bought the RSJ and padstones and notified Building Control.

I have just had the first visit from the BCO before work starts. He has requested a trial hole be dug against the outside wall where one of the ends of the RSJ will be resting. This is to expose the size and type of foundation. I have no problem with this.

He has however requested a trial hole be dug inside the house to expose the foundations of what will become the nib supporting the other end of the RSJ.

My concern is how will I repair any damp proof membrane that is presumably under the slab of the dining room floor?

I am sure that there is a simple solution and I wont have to dig out the whole of the dining room floor. Am I right?

Thanks in advance.

Your bigger problem is a numpty inspector asking to see foundations that are already supporting walls, and therefore will be adequate to support the walls that are left once you remove part of them!

DPM repair is with a bit of DPB and some butyl tape

^woody^ said:

Your bigger problem is a numpty inspector asking to see foundations that are already supporting walls, and therefore will be adequate to support the walls that are left once you remove part of them!

DPM repair is with a bit of DPB and some butyl tape

Click to expand...

Thanks Woody.

The house was built on Shale in the 50's and the BCO seems to think that internal walls don't have the same robust foundations as the exterior walls. As the load on the Nib will be more than before the rest of the wall was removed he wants to see if the foundations are up to the job. I just hope that it doesn't lead to more problems.

Your building inspector doesn't seem to be aware of the fact that due to brickwork bonding, the point load applied by the beam onto the internal wall doesn't go straight down, but is dissipated along the wall, so spreading the load over a greater area of foundation.
Shouldn't really be an issue.

tony1851 said:

Your building inspector doesn't seem to be aware of the fact that due to brickwork bonding, the point load applied by the beam onto the internal wall doesn't go straight down, but is dissipated along the wall, so spreading the load over a greater area of foundation.
Shouldn't really be an issue.

Click to expand...

Thanks Tony. I did sort of wonder myself. What worried me was that he said that he had not yet read the engineers report! Unfortunately it does not get me out of having to dig a hole in my dining room floor.