Universal beam or easier way?

[pilsbury]

I'm going to be knocking out my kitchen wall to incorporate the current kitchen into the soon to be extension. The current kitchen is single storey and I was wondering if there are other options other than putting in a UB to support the gable end once the wall is removed. The extension will be single storey flat roofed with a monopitched tiled roof to match the existing and will replace the shoddy lean to.

 

[noseall]

Remove the gable - completely.

 

[^woody^]

Use a lintel

 

[pilsbury]

Noseall - That had crossed my mind, but the brickwork is holding the ridge beam - isn't it? Or does the roof structure support that? However, I'd quite like to keep the brick.

Woody - What sort of lintel? Concrete? How big? I suppose there is not a huge amount of weight in the gable end..... building wise....

 

[^woody^]

Concrete or steel. Depends on how fit you feel. Steel normally though.

 

[pilsbury]

Cheers - I shall have a butchers what's on offer.