Fitting a new attic floorbeam in a Victorian house

[Steve059]

We want to strengthen the floor in the attic so more of it can be used as habitable space. We have had a floor beam specified by a structural engineer.

He states that the beam should be taken into (ie supported by) the walls. This means knocking a 6 x 6 x 6 inch hole in one wall and a 6 x 6 x 12 inch (double depth to allow the beam to be slid in) in the other.

I am concerned by the amount of trauma this will cause the walls and the need to faff about with a party wall agreement (one side only).

Is it possible to have steel fabrications made that can be chemical-bolted to the walls from which the floor beam can be hung?

 

[tony1851]

Is it possible to have steel fabrications made that can be chemical-bolted to the walls from which the floor beam can be hung?

You can have steel support shoes fabricated, and this is sometimes done when the party wall is only one-half brick thick.

But you have to be careful about how you bolt it to the wall, as the bolts produce high localized stress in the bricks. As it's a Victorian house, the bricks are likely to be relatively soft.
It also results in the load being off-centre from the wall, which might induce additional stresses in the brickwork.
It would be better if you could set the beam into the wall rather than hanging it off it.

Technically you would still need a PWA agreement as you are putting extra load on the wall.

 

[catlad]

Another option is to build a stud wall in front of your party wall and sit the beam on that.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Another option is to build a stud wall in front of your party wall and sit the beam on that.

And what does that sit on?

 

[catlad]

I've no idea Have you seen his house?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

You tell us, it was your suggestion ........