Who is correct?

busy_mom_2

I have started the process of having a small extension built and an internal supporting wall knocked down. I have had a few builders round to discuss my ideas and now having the plans submitted for approval. The builders are all happy to take down the full length of the supporting wall to open up the kitchen. This wall is the full length if the back of the house.
The architect who is doing the plans disagrees with this and says I need to leave a post in the middle of the room because a beam is running the opposite way to the new RSJ. I really don't want this post as it will fall in the middle of the room and take up valuable space. Who is correct?

Innys

busy_mom wrote: »

I have started the process of having a small extension built and an internal supporting wall knocked down. I have had a few builders round to discuss my ideas and now having the plans submitted for approval. The builders are all happy to take down the full length of the supporting wall to open up the kitchen. This wall is the full length if the back of the house.
The architect who is doing the plans disagrees with this and says I need to leave a post in the middle of the room because a beam is running the opposite way to the new RSJ. I really don't want this post as it will fall in the middle of the room and take up valuable space. Who is correct?

Can't the beam in question rest on the new RSJ? That's what my builder has done.

busy_mom_2

thats what i thought but architect says no, confused.

SailorSam

There are no doubt some very good builders and some very bad architects but,
you would think the architect would have more training and would know more.
Perhaps if you could get them both there together to argue their corner, one may change their mind.

System

a structural engineer is the only person qualified to sign something like that off! no point in getting a builder and an architect out to argue about unless they are both going to take liability for it (which of course they wont as it's a purely structural matter)

muskoka

Surely you have a structural engineer involved. I've just removed most of the back wall of my house to extend my kitchen & the structural engineer advised I HAD to leave in a pier measuring 600 where the wall was removed to support the new RSJ two of which I had to have - bolted togther for some reason? Presumably due to loading. I also had to double joist the kitchen ceiling/upstairs floor to sustain the weight, regardless of what anybody else thought.

I had a vaulted ceiling and honestly it looks absolutely fine. I'm going to use this 600 pier to run kitchen units alongside of, so it wasn't a problem for me.

Doozergirl

It's already been said but the only person genuinely qualified is the structural engineer that you haven't yet appointed. But an architect has proper qualifications that a builder does not and for that reason I would take that as the worst case scenario. It isn't always about weight, it's also about overall stability which is what builders sometimes may not grasp. Buildings can twist as well as drop so you need a certain amount of original walls to remain. If there is a structural wall running at right angles to that wall, that's where you hit trouble generally. That corner needs special support so unless you fancy incredibly expensive cantilevering, the post is the most you're going to get away with.

I'd factor in for that post but let the structural engineer make the decision. A structural engineer may well be able to find you a work-around. Speaking from experience though, you'll be surprised that even if you do need extra support in the room the end result ends up not being nearly half as bad as you thought.

busy_mom_2

So where does the structural engineer come in? So far we are only in the process of the plans, nothing has yet been submitted to the council. Do I fund an engineer or who involves him for me?
I have tried to ask the architect this but he keeps telling me everything is hand. I haven't paid him anything yet, should I be finding myself someone else?

docmatt

muskoka wrote: »

bolted togther for some reason?

Believe it or not it's incase we ever had an earthquake so the two wouldn't sperate with the shakes and the bricks fall off!

boogiemaster

A structural engineer will tell you what you can and cant do.

He will also tel you what girder you would need to take the weight over a certain span.

You will normally need a post to support the weight but a A structural engineer might suggest a certain size girder that will take the weight instead of having a post.

You don't want to take chances

muskoka

My architect told me I needed a structural engineer & my architect organised the structural engineer also. I never met the engineer. I believe?? he did the structural work from the architects drawings (but could be wrong there?, not sure).

My architect also kept me fully informed, answered all my continual questions any time of day & spoke to me tons of times to reassure me & advise me. Architect cost me £450 - structural engineer cost me about £200??? could have been less, cant remember now. Was six months ago & I'm close to London. Architect also sent my plans in & got permissions in place for me & gave me builders details to get quotes from - architect also worked to my budget & told me I could achieve what I wanted with my low budget, though it would be tight. I did it & it was tight, but achieved now. I paid the council planning bills obviously on top.