Load bearing wall help

mish

Im 99% sure the wall i want to put a door way in is non load bearing, but to clarify i was wondering if someone could help. It in an upstairs wall which divides 2 bedrooms, the wall has nothing underneath it downstairs, so it does not sit directly below another wall. Am i correct in thinking it is deffo non load bearing?

Owain_Moneysaver

No, it may be spreading the load of the roof structure out to the walls, or providing lateral stability to the walls at each end.

However if you only want to put a single width door in it there's unlikely to be a problem; a competent builder will advise. You will require Building Regulations approval from the council.

mish

Thank you. We have fink/w trusses in the attic and house is a no fines construction. A lot of people in my street (some different layouts) have divided a bedroom without any building paperwork. Is it needed?

Owain_Moneysaver

Yes, it's altering a structural part of the building (even if the wall is not defined as load bearing it's still part of the structure and any modifications must be safe).

Especially with a 'non standard construction' house I would recommend making sure all the paperwork is in order for when you come to sell.

Lungboy

Ask your local building control, I found mine to be very helpful when planning and executing renovations in my house.

mish

Thanks everyone, my husband contacted our local council who said no warrants or permission is needed as long it is a non load bearing wall.

Dan-Dan

mish wrote: »

Thanks everyone, my husband contacted our local council who said no warrants or permission is needed as long it is a non load bearing wall.

How are you planning to confirm this?

mish

Im pretty sure its non load bearing myself however im sure the tradesman who is carrying out the work for us will be more informed. There only looks to be a simple frame on this particular wall. From research it would seem there would need to be more that this supporting it if it was indeed load bearing and not just a simple frame attached to the ceiling and not going through it.

Mocha61

When a local builder quoted on my daughters house we asked him if council needed to be contacted for planning control, he said no, this was to remove a wall between downstairs rooms and remove chimney breasts. It turns out that the councils planning control should of been contacted. The builder had been in the trade for over 25 years and had no knowledge of building regulations, the work he did was so dangerous he has been taken to court by the council. He had no idea it was not only a load bearing wall but also supported the roof! The council planning control are very helpful in these situations and worth talking to.

Lungboy

Get a structural engineer to have a look, you might even find one that will do a free assessment.

Owain_Moneysaver

It's not planning, it's building control. Completely separate department and legislation.