Urgent!! Builder - to remove a load bearing wall

BitterAndTwisted

Why would you trust a plumber to undertake or supervise work they are not qualified or experienced to do?

You need a properly qualified builder, one who's work you can see for yourself and an owner who would be willing to recommend them. In an ideal world, more than one happy customer.

Doing anything else would extremely foolish. And that's putting it mildly.

bluedrop

reformedEffortmaker wrote: »

Am I missing something? Why the rush to find someone? what's the deadline?

We have to move in by the end of the month....

BitterAndTwisted

Moving in and having the work carried out safely and competently isn't the end of the world. Engaging someone incompetent and in a rush, could be.

Please don't be tempted to do this!

jkpd

As a building contractor I sub-contract other trades as and when required, this is how the trade works, if my plumber needs joinery or building work on a re-fit he calls me, if I need a heating system and bathrooms in a newbuild house I call my plumber, so use your fitter.

dimbo61

I had 5 separate steel RSJ,s installed in my house when we did major work 3 years ago taking down chimney and main wall in middle of house.
Then this year had extension done with corner of house removed.
Did we use a Qualified structural engineer ?
I would be out of my mind not too.
T shaped steels, brick pillars, the calculations were way beyond me.
This all needed planning and building regs and was inspected.

phoebe1989seb

bluedrop wrote: »

We have to move in by the end of the month....

Couldn't you just move in and have the work completed whilst you're in situ? Living with builders/on-going building work is not the end of the world, as I for one can testify!

Surely - as others have said - far better not to rush something so important and end up potentially endangering yourselves and the structural integrity of your new home.........

anselld

dimbo61 wrote: »

I had 5 separate steel RSJ,s installed in my house when we did major work 3 years ago taking down chimney and main wall in middle of house.
Then this year had extension done with corner of house removed.
Did we use a Qualified structural engineer ?
I would be out of my mind not too.
T shaped steels, brick pillars, the calculations were way beyond me.
This all needed planning and building regs and was inspected.

OP has already stated that is all done.

It is simply a question of finding a suitable contractor to follow the plans.

bluedrop

I have an update.

The rated people builder sent me some pics of the work he had done. Impressive. He was kind of pushing me into agreeing a price then and there so that he can order the steel. I insisted on seeing his insurance....he was always going to email it to me in a minute. He confessed last evening finally. His insurance expired months ago! Needless to say , I ran!!!

I spoke to the structural engineer who did the calcs for me. He recommended someone and I am waiting for a quote fom them.

In the meanwhile, my bathroom fitter has been trying to convince me into giving him the job. I did some digging and it turned out that he is nvq level3 in carpentry and has removed non-load bearing walls before (as evident from his mybuilder old recommemdations)... I'm not sure how relevant his qualifications are...but I'm still thinking...

I've also been trying to educate myself as much as possible about the whole process. Does this video correctly captures what exactly needs to be done?

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4G08ooz1wjE

No, I'm not trying to DIY!!

irishjohn

bluedrop wrote: »

I have an update.
His insurance expired months ago! Needless to say , I ran!!!

I spoke to the structural engineer who did the calcs for me. He recommended someone and I am waiting for a quote fom them.

In the meanwhile, my bathroom fitter has been trying to convince me into giving him the job. I did some digging and it turned out that he is nvq level3 in carpentry and has removed non-load bearing walls before (as evident from his mybuilder old recommemdations)... I'm not sure how relevant his qualifications are...but I'm still thinking...

Just wondering - experience in removing non-load bearing walls - is this a bit like asking a guy who has a hang glider to fly you in a plane?

If the bathroom fitter is recommending someone who can confirm their skills and qualifications to do the job then that would be my first choice - as previously said - builders do have details of "partner" skills when required.

If this is not the case, then the structural engineer recommendation is also a good route to take.

Any thoughts whatever of a rush job, without paying full regard to building control requirements can both endanger life and make the property impossible to sell in the future - not a hard decision if I were in your shoes

bluedrop

irishjohn wrote: »

Any thoughts whatever of a rush job, without paying full regard to building control requirements can both endanger life and make the property impossible to sell in the future - not a hard decision if I were in your shoes

Ofcourse!! Building control has already been notified.