RSJ Crack-Help

EssexExile

Heedtheadvice wrote: »

As per Jack. How can we tell at distance?
If it is a concrete libel I would be a !iitgiitgleiitgiitgle worried!
If it is Rolled Steel Moist (RSJ) filled in to finish then perhaps just some simple remedial work. Get it structurally surveyed!!!!!

Well that's made it clear.:D

jd93

Hi all,

I'm going to ask the neighbours tommorow, we are a row of 5 so it may be a common feature ( minus the crack).

We've delayed the plasterer and hoping to get a structural engineer over this week.

The wall has been sectioned into 1 atleast 15 years as the previous owners didn't change it.

Fingers crossed there is a metal rsj under there! We're going to take off more of the plaster, how high from the roof should the rsj be?

jd93

For a bit more perspective see below images.

How and where do i need to remove the plaster for the structural person?

tonyh66

hammer a 6 inch nail into the underside of the arch, it should only go in about 1 to 3 inches before hitting the steel if it goes more than 3 inches there is no steel in there.

FreeBear

tonyh66 wrote: »

hammer a 6 inch nail into the underside of the arch, it should only go in about 1 to 3 inches before hitting the steel if it goes more than 3 inches there is no steel in there.

All well and good if it is covered in a soft plaster & timber cladding. If it has a hard cement coating, a nail isn't going to go in too far. Should it be a concrete beam, then driving a nail in just isn't going to work.

jd93 wrote: »

How and where do i need to remove the plaster for the structural person

I would leave it as is until a structural engineer has had a look. If he needs to see more, follow his advice in removing more of the plaster. If it is a concrete beam, you don't want to be hacking in to it and compromising its strength.