Finding out if small wall is load bearing???

babyangel10

Hi there,

I'll try and explain as best I can with this, but will endeavour to post a photo if ness.

The back door (in my kitchen) also has a small 60cm window to the left of it, but I am soon to be getting a new kitchen and I am wanting to knock the window out and put the door in it's place. Or maybe just leave an opening, as it leads into the conservatory. The window isn't used anyway, so no loss there (apart from a wee bit of light I suppose).

Now, below the window is a small 65cm wide, approx 80cm high, 2/3 brick deep solid wall (not sure if brick or block), so I just wonder if anyone can give a good guess as to whether the whole house were to fall down should I smash it all out?!!! (:eek:!!!)

The whole thing (window and door) are sat in one big timber frame, so I guess (hope!) that there is a damn good steel above, as originally (pre-conservatory) this was the outside wall.

I'm good with a sledgehammer, so not afraid of that bit and can replace the door frame, replaster where necessary, etc but obviously don't want to put the family at risk, especially as my daughter sleeps right above the kitchen!

This probably sounds like the start of DIY disasters, but any advice welcomed!!!:)

ormus

if it was an outside wall then it will be a load bearing wall. find out if a lintel is in place.
if not then insert one, before removing all below it.
small steel lintels are about 10/15 quid from wickes.

babyangel10

Thanks, Ormus

So you are saying that if (bloomin hope there is!!!) a lintel is in place above the window and door then it 'should' be ok to remove the below window brickwork bit?!!!

Not that I'm planning on doing it tonight though, but just planning ahead!

Thanks again

ormus

put it this way:
if it was my house and i found a lintel in place, i wouldnt have any worries about removing all below it and inserting a new door frame.

babyangel10

cool, thanks again - I know I could rely on one of the regulars on this board to give me a 'yay or nay' answer and for me to feel confident that you know what you are doing! :beer:

andrew-b

If the lintel is there check it spans both window and door... if there are seperate lintels for each then the one above the window might not be wide enough to replace window with door. Sounds like it may be ok to me but worth investigating first!
If in doubt get someone in...a decent builder should be able to confirm.

On a funnier note i was watching Fawlty Towers DVD last night where Basil had O'reilly in (on the cheap) to add a door, he put it in the wrong place and didn't put a lintel in!

Andy

babyangel10

Haha! I know the clip you mean - with the 'orelly' men! That's well funny!

Thanks for your advice too :beer: I should add that the house is only 9-10 years old, so would like to be confident in the lintel being there, but like you say, whether or not it's a complete one or not needs investigating first.

andrew-b

...and Manuel answers phone to Basil and is told to ask for the man with the beard and calls him "you hairy orangutan" and gets lamped! Classic comedy! Shame they don't seem to repeat Fawlty Towers - probably the political correctness police to blame for that ...ve vun the vor etc!

Andy

babyangel10

Yeh deffo that the PC brigade will be up in arms - spesh with the racist jokes (use of the 'n' word etc!) Well funny though - I'm Irish and I don't object to having the Mick taken out of me!

No offence to anyone BTW!!!