Knocking down internal walls - supporting wall or not?

[Deleted User]

Not doing myself.....

But I understand if its a supporting wall then its a great deal more costly. Anyone got any ideas of costs for knocking down internal wall/sorting out - supporting and otherwise?

How do you tell if its a supporting wall? Yes, I can ask the builder but I'd like the info myself too.

Happy-Days_3

A supporting wall does what it says - it supports the structure above. So if you take it out you have to support the structure with something else - a steel beam. That obviously costs more than if it isn't supporting and you can just rip the wall out.

How can thou tell? Ask a proffesional - a structural engineer if there is any doubt at all.

You can take a guess though. E.g. is the wall quite thick and made of brick like an external wall? If yes more likely supporting. If thin breeze block, less likely supporting wall. If sounds hollow and is just a stud wall, that isn't supporting. Also, another possible indicator is that supporting walls are often on top of each other. So our house there is a wall downstairs and up in exactly the same location, on top of each other, it is double brick thickness and rock solid. My money is on that being a supporting wall. We have another that has nothing above it and made of thin breeze block. I don't believe that is supporting.

Plus maybe lots of other things for different house types, but that is all I know I'm afraid!

Cost will depend where you are and size, but few £k to remove, support and make good is my guess.

[Deleted User]

Happy-Days wrote: »

A supporting wall does what it says - it supports the structure above. So if you take it out you have to support the structure with something else - a steel beam. That obviously costs more than if it isn't supporting and you can just rip the wall out.

How can thou tell? Ask a proffesional - a structural engineer if there is any doubt at all.

You can take a guess though. E.g. is the wall quite thick and made of brick like an external wall? If yes more likely supporting. If thin breeze block, less likely supporting wall. If sounds hollow and is just a stud wall, that isn't supporting. Also, another possible indicator is that supporting walls are often on top of each other. So our house there is a wall downstairs and up in exactly the same location, on top of each other, it is double brick thickness and rock solid. My money is on that being a supporting wall. We have another that has nothing above it and made of thin breeze block. I don't believe that is supporting.

Plus maybe lots of other things for different house types, but that is all I know I'm afraid!

Cost will depend where you are and size, but few £k to remove, support and make good is my guess.

Thanks. No wall above. And its pretty thin,

Pretty sure its not a supporting wall....

Gastines2

Don't forget you need calculations from a structural engineer,submit these to building control who will then inspect the job at various stages,including fire board on RSJ, before plastering. He will then sign it off and give you paperwork required when and if you sell the property.

[Deleted User]

Gastines2 wrote: »

Don't forget you need calculations from a structural engineer,submit these to building control who will then inspect the job at various stages,including fire board on RSJ, before plastering. He will then sign it off and give you paperwork required when and if you sell the property.

Assuming this only applies if it is a supporting wall?