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Load bearing wall - DIY parts?
Comments
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Miss_Samantha wrote: »I'm thinking that doing structural work when unqualified may have consequences on your building insurance.
And more consequences when you come to sell - if the house is still standing at that point.0 -
Thanks all - would absolutely do it the correct route in terms of getting structural engineer in to draw out all the plans and then someone with experience of adding a RSJ to do all of the dangerous/risky bits.
All that I'm contemplating doing myself is removing the remaining brick work and plastering everything up. I've family that have done a lot of plastering in the past so I'm not worried about that part.
Sounds like the best (safest) option is to let the pros with all the experience to do everything in terms of making it safe and getting the wall down!!Mortgage - £124,903 Sept 2016-Jan 2017 OP target £1,750/[STRIKE]£1,550[/STRIKE]0 -
Looking to remove one load bearing wall (2.7x2.5m) and create an archway (2x2.3m) in another (all in the same job). Walls are brick.
In everyone's experience, is it possible to get the RSJ or timber support (or whatever material i end up choosing)
Did you never see the Fawlty Towers episode "The Builders"??
"4 by 2??? That's a supporting wall Mr Fawlty!"If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales0 -
Miss_Samantha wrote: »I'm thinking that doing structural work when unqualified may have consequences on your building insurance.
I dont see it would be structural by amateurs in that the builder would be doing the RSJ.
However I'm not sure it would actually be much quicker because they would then have to take allowance of them not knocking all the wall down in order to put the RSJ in, just selected bits.
They'll have to do some wall removal anyway so it seems to me that getting them to put in RSJ and knock wall down is one logical unit of work. "making good" is the other. Whereas "RSJ and a bit of wall" would be hard to define
Perhaps you could agree to do the rubble removal but even then its probably better to remove as you go.0 -
If you asked me, as a professional, to do half the job while you DIY the other half I'd be bloody well making sure I raised my price to account for it. I don't think you'll save much at all doing things this way.0
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AnotherJoe wrote: »I dont see it would be structural by amateurs in that the builder would be doing the RSJ.
Would you want to argue this point with your insurer the day you need them?0 -
Miss_Samantha wrote: »Would you want to argue this point with your insurer the day you need them?
Why not, if the RSJ was installed by a professional and it was signed off by the council? You wouldn't be removing a load bearing wall because by then the fragments left wouldn't be load bearing,.0 -
Hi, this job comes under the control of UK building regulations as it is a structural alteration. It's illegal for you to attempt to make alterations to any structural part of your home without informing (and getting the work checked by) the building control department of your local council. This will not be your home forever and you have a duty of care to not only those entering it now but to those who enter it after you have left.
(Text removed by MSE Forum Team)0 -
Our local council took a builder to court recently for doing just this, he didnt put the correct size RSJ in and failed to support where he removed the chimney breast. They said he had left the property in a dangerous state which could cause harm to home owners. Always best to speak to planning control and structral engineer.0
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In everyone's experience, is it possible to get the RSJ or timber support (or whatever material i end up choosing) installed correctly by a builder and then do the removal of the wall and then clearing up/plastering/finishing myself?
You could, but knocking out the hole is the cheap and mucky bit and you probably wouldn't save much in proportion to the work you'd have to do and the mess you'd have to cope with.
Once the builder has knocked out the hole and made good to brick and mortar standard, certainly do the lining and plastering yourself if you want.A kind word lasts a minute, a skelped erse is sair for a day.0
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