Plumbing notches in floor joists.

JReacher1

Morning

I bought my house ten years ago and never had any issues. Last week I had a leak in my bathroom and pulled up my floorboards to fix it. I noticed that the previous occupant had made notches in the joists to let the pipes though. This is obviously a clear no no!

As this was done about 15 years ago (the house is 100 years old) is this something I should arrange to have fixed eg getting the joists reinforced?

I'm not sure if it's a ticking time bomb!

Ruski

It's a yes yes... unless they've taken an adze to your joists...

Anyway, this is a useful uk gov guide:

https://www.dacorum.gov.uk/docs/default-source/planning-development/22---guidance-note---technical---notching-of-joists-may2011.pdf?Status=Master&sfvrsn=0

hth

Russ

JReacher1

Ruski wrote: »

It's a yes yes... unless they've taken an adze to your joists...

Anyway, this is a useful uk gov guide:

https://www.dacorum.gov.uk/docs/default-source/planning-development/22---guidance-note---technical---notching-of-joists-may2011.pdf?Status=Master&sfvrsn=0

hth

Russ

Cheers. I'll get someone in. The notches are significantly bigger than the ones in that guide! Is it a relatively straightforward job to have the joists reinforced or is it going to be very costly?

macman

It's normal practice. Unless they've cut a huge amount of the joist cross section away then it should not be an issue. Post a pic so we can see the notches.

JReacher1

macman wrote: »

It's normal practice. Unless they've cut a huge amount of the joist cross section away then it should not be an issue. Post a pic so we can see the notches.

Cheers, sadly I won't be able to easily post a picture as the floorboards are back down now the leak has fixed. I'll have to rip them back up again.

They are sizeable notches though. The beams are quite thick (around 25 cm's) and it appears they gone in about 10 cm's for the width of the waste pipe. The plumber said he had never seen notches quite like it!

Its a bit annoying but when I bought the house 10 years ago I never
thought to rip the floorboards up to see what they had done!

The only positive is that the floor hasn't collapsed and they do look like they are holding up ok!

Grenage

JReacher1 wrote: »

for the width of the waste pipe.

Yes you're not wrong, you don't notch for waste pipe - bit big for that.

phill99

JReacher1 wrote: »

Its a bit annoying but when I bought the house 10 years ago I never
thought to rip the floorboards up to see what they had done!

Why on earth would you?

JReacher1

phill99 wrote: »

JReacher1 wrote: »

Its a bit annoying but when I bought the house 10 years ago I never
thought to rip the floorboards up to see what they had done!

Why on earth would you?

Yes exactly who would do! Its just annoying when you buy a house and then discover ten years later that the previous owner was a muppet and decided to saw through the floor joists!

phill99

JReacher1 wrote: »

phill99 wrote: »

JReacher1 wrote: »

Its a bit annoying but when I bought the house 10 years ago I never
thought to rip the floorboards up to see what they had done!


Yes exactly who would do! Its just annoying when you buy a house and then discover ten years later that the previous owner was a muppet and decided to saw through the floor joists!

But the house is a hundred years old and has probably had 10 owners in that time. Do you really think it would be in pristine condition/

JReacher1

phill99 wrote: »

JReacher1 wrote: »

phill99 wrote: »

But the house is a hundred years old and has probably had 10 owners in that time. Do you really think it would be in pristine condition/

Not pristine no. I just didn't expect the previous owner to decide to saw through the joists!

Vectis

So, 10 years and no problems, why are you panicking now?