Partial wall removal

[Davehughes1]

Hi,
This may be a little controversial, but we'll see.

I have a wall approx 4m wide that I am planning on putting a 2.8m hole in to open through into the room next door.
The wall is double skinned and stops at ceiling height and carries the first floor joists on top of it. There is no wall immediately above on the first floor.

The wall is obviously a load bearing wall that supports the floor/joists above.

My plan is obviously to acro prop (x4) with scaff planks to spread the load on one side of the wall. I then plan on making a door sized hole and working my way out left and right until I have a 2.8m wide opening. This will leave 600mm either side acting as piers. I will then remove the top few courses of bricks from each pier and fit padstones either side. Once this has settled I will fit an I shaped RSJ of approx 4m long with a width of between 250 and 270mm and 12mm thickness and place on the padstones and pack any small gap above with slate or other recommended material.

From the little research I have done the RSJ I have in mind is totally over specced for the job and that's fine by me.

Any comments or suggestions (other than flaming and get a surveyor in) on what I plan to do please ?

Many thanks

 

[Blagard]

It is really really hard to restrain myself here, but I will try.

You should not need a 4m long beam to form a 2.8m opening.

Have you given any thought to the weight of that beam you describe bearing in mind you also have to get the thing in ?

What do you think will be holding up the bricks/blocks over your 2.8m wide "door opening"

You will need building control approval anyway, think about how you will get this as it should become evident that you need to re-think the whole thing through again.

Without an understanding of structures, how can you be sure your propping will do the job without damage to the structure below or above, and will it get in the way when you attempt to fit the beam.

Please, just don't do it. Your Building insurance will not cover the disaster that you invite.

 

[Davehughes1]

Thank you for your reply.

I have seen the light and employed the services of a structural engineer. I have to say I was a little disappointed. He spent all of 5 minutes here. he measured both rooms either side of the wall to be removed and disappeared.

Should I expect a little more from him ? i.e some guidance on where to put the acro's etc ?

 

[Blagard]

The Engineers will only do what you ask them to.

If you asked him to draw up a solution for you, it will probably just be a drawing that should be suitable for Building Control to OK. It could be as little as just the beam size.

If you want some guidance from him to carry out the work yourself, just ask him if he could advise on the sequence of work and advise on the temporary support actually needed in your particular case. If you want it in writing, ask him.

You are definately doing the right thing to get him involved. The work is doable as DIY with the right advice and attitude.