Hi- just got my structural survey back for removal of a supporting wall and noticed that the calculated beam is UC 208mm, but the ceiling void is only 178mm deep. So it looks like I need an RSJ bigger than the void, and below ceiling height. Fine if I need it, but when questioning if I have to, the surveyor replied with, 'a small downstand can be provided if required'. He's not around for a while, so can anyone please let me know what on earth this means so I can get on with it/ do something to progress this? Thanks.
What is a 'small downstand'?
- Thread starter RRRRRR
- Start date
A bit that sticks down into the room, which gets in the way if you want a flush ceiling between rooms. No big deal, loads of knock through living rooms have them, including ours.
The work is quite involved though (read: costly) it means supporting the ceiling/floor above (both sides) and inserting the steel between floors and fixing the existing joists securely to the beam, or more likely a timber bolted to the web.
You could just put the beam under what's already there and have a big downstand instead. You'll have about 220mm sticking down into the room once plasterboarded and skimmed.
The work is quite involved though (read: costly) it means supporting the ceiling/floor above (both sides) and inserting the steel between floors and fixing the existing joists securely to the beam, or more likely a timber bolted to the web.
You could just put the beam under what's already there and have a big downstand instead. You'll have about 220mm sticking down into the room once plasterboarded and skimmed.
Thanks for this, especially Thermo's reply! Sorry to be thick (that's my parents' fault) but I think I can still use the ceiling void, as the beam is going in where one room's joists hit it at right angles (and their ends sit on the supporting wall currently) before the next room's joist run parallel to the proposed new beam. Anyone still awake ? I'm not. So, would the joists at right angles be fitted into the RSJ recess (inside the sideways 'H' shape) thus explaining the 'small downdrop' into the new room's ceiling? Hello? Or (thickest question) must all joists sit on top of a RSJ and not 'within' it if they're at right angles??? Richard (age 9 3/4).
L
lifesagasman
interesting question. never fitted an rsj myself but await answers. if joist ends fit into channel they wouldn't appear to be supported by much, about 1.5" roughly.
They can sit within it, but have you thought about how tricky it will be go get them in there? Unless you have elastic or telescoping floor joists.
ok just read again, you are saying that the room on one side has the joists running into the supporting wall, and the room on the other side has them running parallel to the supporting wall. Slightly unusual but helpful in this instance.
ok just read again, you are saying that the room on one side has the joists running into the supporting wall, and the room on the other side has them running parallel to the supporting wall. Slightly unusual but helpful in this instance.
Bolt a piece of timber inside the channel of the RSJ and fix the joists with hangers. Also remove another course of bricks so that the RSJ sits higher and you should be able to achieve a flush ceiling.
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