Hello, I've started a little project opening up an external ground floor wall to put a window in and would really appreciate advice on a few questions. I’ve researched but too much info and no real answers has left me confused.
The house is 1930s so got them dense heavy bricks, it's a cavity wall so need to open up both skins. There are no 90 degree walls coming off above on the floor above and the floor joists run parallel with the wall so no load to worry about there either. So I’ve only got wall above my opening all the way up to the roof, oh and the highest point of the roofs apex sits at the top of the same wall so roof joists are not giving load either.
The opening I'm making is 850mm wide and I'm using a 1200mm prestressed reinforced concrete lintel from b&q which gives me the suggested 150mm end bearings.
Now the questions.
1. Will a strongboy deal with both skins from one side of the job or would acrow props be better, and considering the width of the gap I’m making how many of either would I need considering what sits above?
2. Once the lintel is up flush to the top row of bricks it will leave a 40mm gap beneath it and the end bearings. Should I dry pack the gap and smack some 100mm x150mm slate packers in, or steel packers? and if so what is the correct process/order for doing it?
3. Is it best to run a layer if dry pack along the top of the lintel before I offer it up to the bricks and if so how thick considering the gap between the lintel and the bearing ends?
4. How long should I leave everything to go off before removing the props?
5. Do I need to get Building Regs to come and approve it ?
I think that’s all, any advice, guidance or suggestions would be very much appreciated, thanks
The house is 1930s so got them dense heavy bricks, it's a cavity wall so need to open up both skins. There are no 90 degree walls coming off above on the floor above and the floor joists run parallel with the wall so no load to worry about there either. So I’ve only got wall above my opening all the way up to the roof, oh and the highest point of the roofs apex sits at the top of the same wall so roof joists are not giving load either.
The opening I'm making is 850mm wide and I'm using a 1200mm prestressed reinforced concrete lintel from b&q which gives me the suggested 150mm end bearings.
Now the questions.
1. Will a strongboy deal with both skins from one side of the job or would acrow props be better, and considering the width of the gap I’m making how many of either would I need considering what sits above?
2. Once the lintel is up flush to the top row of bricks it will leave a 40mm gap beneath it and the end bearings. Should I dry pack the gap and smack some 100mm x150mm slate packers in, or steel packers? and if so what is the correct process/order for doing it?
3. Is it best to run a layer if dry pack along the top of the lintel before I offer it up to the bricks and if so how thick considering the gap between the lintel and the bearing ends?
4. How long should I leave everything to go off before removing the props?
5. Do I need to get Building Regs to come and approve it ?
I think that’s all, any advice, guidance or suggestions would be very much appreciated, thanks