Any builders?? Is this RSJ ok?

BeckyLH01

Hi everyone,

Just looking for a bit of advice, I've recently bought a 3 storey Victorian terrace, at the rear there is a kitchen and separate dining room that we planned on knocking into one and installing an RSJ.

After a little investigation we discovered an RSJ already in place concealed in a lowered ceiling in the kitchen, it appears to be 8x4 inches and is supporting the visible joists and a brick wall upstairs that forms the bedroom wall and the back of the rear chimney stack (completely removed from ground to roof). It appears the current wall downstairs is infact only solid in the middle section and would have once formed the front of the chimney breast.

I have a few concerns, one that the RSJ is big enough to support the upper floors alone without the front of the chimney breast and two that the joists immediately in the line of the old chimney breast may be resting on it for support. We're going to try and have a better look tomorrow.

Any advice would be most appreciated! I've e-mailed building control to see if they have any record of the work.

keystone

Yes of course it is its fine and will last for years. Err no sorry 'twas wrong its dreadfully bad and could fall down any moment.

I've no idea and neither will anyone else here to be honest. Nobody can see it because you haven't posted a pic and even if you did any answer would be unadulterated guesswork.

You need to commission a structural engineers report.

Cheers

BeckyLH01

I've also e-mailed my structural engineer so thanks anyway.

I'm just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience/installation.

No need for sarcasm though

keystone

BeckyLH01 wrote: »

No need for sarcasm though

No need to invite it then. but on the other hand I wasn't being sarcastic. Brutally honest maybe....

Cheers

BeckyLH01

keystone wrote: »

No need to invite it then. but on the other hand I wasn't being sarcastic. Brutally honest maybe....

Cheers

Ok thanks for the useful input. I know what I need to do but I was looking for people with any kind of relevant experience. You don't need to reply again as you clearly don't have this.

Cheers

keystone

BeckyLH01 wrote: »

Ok thanks for the useful input. I know what I need to do but I was looking for people with any kind of relevant experience. You don't need to reply again as you clearly don't have this.

You are correct - I absolutely, categorically have no experience whatseoever of your particular RSJ which was the question you asked:

Is this RSJ ok?

I have a few concerns, one that the RSJ is big enough to support the upper floors alone without the front of the chimney breast and two that the joists immediately in the line of the old chimney breast may be resting on it for support.

Perhaps you might have phrased your question a bit better so that your intention as to what you were looking for were a bit clearer for those of us with inadequate remote viewing capabilities?

Cheers

BeckyLH01

Please be quiet and go and bother someone else. I really didn't come on here to offend. There's no need to be rude. Don't you have anything better to do?

keystone

I'm not being rude. I answered the question you asked which answer you then took me to task over. Sorry if it wasn't the answer you wanted and sorry if the question you asked was not the question that you meant to ask. Thats hardly my fault.

Oh and I'm not offended one iota but you really can't dictate on a public forum who does and does not reply to a thread. .

Cheers

BeckyLH01

No I can't, but it's poor form to post completely irrelevant replies over and over to the OP, you should know that. Or do you enjoy that? Some people do.

Also, I was happy with your answer, just didn't see any need for the sarcasm is all.

ormus

as above.
without knowing the spec of the RSJ, and the total weight above it, it would be pure guesswork to give any meaningful answer.

my guess is that itll be ok.
just remember, thats a guess.

BeckyLH01

ormus wrote: »

as above.
without knowing the spec of the RSJ, and the total weight above it, it would be pure guesswork to give any meaningful answer.

my guess is that itll be ok.
just remember, thats a guess.

Thank you! I know it needs checking but I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas as to whether it may be ok, I'm hoping it's been done right.