Load bearing or not?

SarahLou

Is there an easy way to tell if a wall is load bearing or not?

I've just been to view two units on an industrial estate which I'm interested in renting out for business use. I want both adjoining units and have been told that it would be fine but that I'd have to knock the doorway/archway/opening through myself. The units next door have done the same apparently (but typically they were closed today so I couldn't go and take a peek at theirs!)

I have a few photos. Is there a simple way to tell if its load bearing or not and indeed how much is it likely to cost? They assure me they are NOT load bearing but I would want to be 100% certain myself first as I'm guessing the price would shoot up considerably if it was a load bearing wall, in which case it would likely result in them not being the right premises for my budget.

Its a steel/breezeblock building - the internal wall appears to be just painted breezeblock to my untrained eye.

Something in the region of 2m wide by 2.15m high would be the desired size (ish) - no door put on - just left open.

Any ideas? - pictures below:

System

it looks like it's not loadbearing, do you have any pictures of where the wall meets the roof? normally in a steel framed building the load is all on the steel columns, the cost of doing it wouldn't be a lot different as it's a block wall so you'll still need a decent lintel over any opening...

robv_3

If your only want a door put in it there will be no difference if its load bearing or not. The costs and lintel will be the same.

Generally it only matters if your removing the whole wall or putting a big hole in it.

vax2002

Nothing built out of breeze block is load bearing, they are compressed power station ash and should never be used as anything but dividing walls.
However, it is holding the rest of the wall up and they soon let go once you remove a few, its not a diy job i'm afraid as it will need some 4 way supports to fit the lentil

capeverde

vax2002 wrote: »

Nothing built out of breeze block is load bearing, they are compressed power station ash and should never be used as anything but dividing walls.
However, it is holding the rest of the wall up and they soon let go once you remove a few, its not a diy job i'm afraid as it will need some 4 way supports to fit the lentil

This is nonsense. Re the OP, doesnt matter if its load bearing or not, you will still need a lintel installed before the blocks below are taken out. Simple job, done in under a day for less than a couple of hundred quid inc labour.

ormus

its almost certainly just a dividing wall.

27col

Even if it is just a dividing wall of breeze blocks and is not structural it is still having to support a considerable weight of blocks and would require a lintel to be inserted to be on the safe side.
Nice to see an OP simplifying the post with some decent photos. It makes it much easier to offer advice/opinion.

SarahLou

Thanks everyone. Much appreciated. Y'all were right too - had a builder out yesterday to assess it for me - quote is £320 for half a days work to put a 2m wide by 2.1m tall "hole" in it for me.