Knocking a load bearing wall through

typeractive

Hi all,

In my house I'm looking to join the living room and dining room. The wall to knock through is load bearing. My unlce is going to help me do the job (he's a time served brickie). We measured up tonight and marked our wall. I need to get the following shopping list, but I'm having a couple of problems:

4 acro props (already have access to 2): so I need to hire these - this shouldn't be a problem, just a pain as I only want them for the weekend but have to hire them for the week!

4 battons / timbers - does anyone know if I will be able to hire some timbers to rest the acros on? I need them to be around 8ft long. The only other option is buying some timber cuts, but I think this will be expensive.

1 concrete lintel - we measured:
2400mm long
200mm height
100mm width

Looking on the builders merchants websites, I'm struggling to find a lintel of this size - it seems to be the height that's a problem. Doe anyone have any advice as to where I can get a lintel this size? My uncle may have oversized the height to be safe, but I don't want to dissapoint him in buying one that is quite a bit smaller, as it may not be safe enough and he may not help me install it.

I just want to get all the bits hired, and buy this bloomin lintel, ready to do the job on Saturday!

Any advice would be great.
Cheers

ariba10

We used a R S J (Rolled Steel Joist) It was easier to obtain.

jblack_2

I'm sure you've already thought about it but how do you know what size of lintel you need? It's not as simple as getting one that will fit the hole you need proper calculations.

If you hire a couple of 'strongboys' you'll not need the wood and only half the amount of acros.

typeractive

Cheers,

I was thinking RSJ at first, though two builders have recommended the concrete lintel for this job (one lives a couple of doors away and his house is the same layout as mine, he's been really nice and loaned me two acros too!).

I looked at the strongboy thingies, though ultimately it's my uncle offering his help and expertise, so I don't want to change things in case he feels uncomfortable with it.I'm sure I can get a lintel close to the height, it's getting some bloomin timbers that are annoying me!

ariba10

You will need at least two Acro's each side to hold the relevant floors and one either end of the R S J to keep it tight up until the cement in the supporting pillars goes off.

mcjordi

you can buy scaffolding boards at reclamation yards for about a tenner each

andrew-b

Just hire some short scaffold boards along with the acros. I'd go for an RSJ rather than concrete for weight reasons - guess it depends how many willing volunteers you can find to lift it into place though!

wallbash

Another vote for a RSJ and scaffolding boards


ps I thought they were Big boys ? just curious .

olias

You will need building regs approval to remove a load bearing wall and AFAIK the building inspector will need to see the calcs that relate to the sizing of the lintel or RSJ. I believe steel fabricators will do the calcs for you as part of the service of supplying the RSJ (presumably at a cost, although cheaper than getting a structural engineer).

Olias

typeractive

Thanks guys,

Now I know the bloomin name to search for (scaffold boards), I know I can hire some! That makes life a bit easier. I was going to go rsj for a couple of reasons: lighter, and I have this thought that they will be stronger - probably as they're less likely to crack - though everyone (3 builder people) have said to just get the concrete lintel - apparently easier to plaster over aswell...not that I'm worried about that - my best mate is a plasterer!

I'll have to make a few calls re: this lintel malarkey!

Cheers!

lisal0u

Hi,

We did something similar between our kitchen and dining room. We informed building control who requested to see structural calcs for the size of the RSJ. You really should make sure you know what is loading on the wall you are removing. You dont want to suport it with an unsuitable lintel and your roof fall in!

It had to be suported on appropriate pillars and then inspected when in place.

It was very easy for the plasterers to plaster it. All they did was wedge wooden battons between the I shape then screwed the plaster board to them. The building control lady said we didnt need to double board it as a single layer of plaster board would give the appropriate 30mins (I think?) to get out the house in an event of a fire.
Hope you manage to get it sorted!
Lisa