Load bearing wall

Pas011 · 24 Mar 2026

Hi, we are starting a home renovation project which involves knocking down the dividing wall between two receptions rooms.

We have consulted a structural engineer and have a plan with steel requirements and a party wall agreement etc so that is all good.

We were under the impression that this would be a continuous wall all the way up to the top of the house as it also divides two of the bedrooms on the first floor. However having knocked down the ground floor section, i dont see a continuation of the brick wall. I see the floor joists and then the upstairs floor boards on top. Is this normal?

As it stands, the steel beam would be under the joists supporting them where the brick wall was previously but i find it odd that the upstairs section wouldn’t be a continuation of the downstairs wall.

For context, this is a semi detached house c1930ish

stevie888 · 24 Mar 2026

Not unusual. I've seen places where the wall above was offset by 200 mm so the roof loads were actually inducing bending in the joists

blup · 24 Mar 2026

Sounds like the upstairs wall is sat on a double wood joist, not unusual for a 1930s property, ours had blocks on them rather than a stud wall. What does your strucci say?

johnny2007 · 24 Mar 2026

If the upstairs floor joists run perpendicular to that wall, the wall reduces the joist span and when removed, it must be replaced with steel.
Sometimes a SE can design a wooden support, but steel is easier.

Pas011 · 24 Mar 2026

johnny2007 said:
If the upstairs floor joists run perpendicular to that wall, the wall reduces the joist span and when removed, it must be replaced with steel.
Sometimes a SE can design a wooden support, but steel is easier.

Steel is being fitted. I was just puzzled by the discontinuity of the wall.

cdbe · 24 Mar 2026

How far apart are the two walls? You might be better repositioning the steel especially If the first floor joists run parallel to the wall.

Pas011 · 24 Mar 2026

cdbe said:
How far apart are the two walls? You might be better repositioning the steel especially If the first floor joists run parallel to the wall.

The joists are perpendicular to the removed wall and parallel to the two flanking walls the steel connects with.

stevie888 · 24 Mar 2026

Don't over think it. Your new steel will support the joists and the wall above plus any roof loads acting on it will continue to be supported by the joists in compression as they arte now. This actually makes the job easier as you won't run the risk of loosening bricks bewtween the joists

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Load bearing wall

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