Structural Engineer calculation mistake 10 January at 5:47PM in In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving 11 replies 711 views

Kakes88

Currently in the middle of a home renovation project and have plans to knock through the wall between the living room and diner. 

I had a structural engineer come round in order to have a look and provide calculations for the steel beam which he has done. However, since removing the skirting from the wall that sits directly above the one to be knocked through, we have realised that it is in fact not a load bearing wall. My question is, shouldn’t he have known that? I can understand why he may have assumed it was load bearing, but surly there should have been more done on his side to ensure that was the case. 

I’ve paid £500 for calculations that are not needed - is there anyway to get this money back?

FreeBear

Have you looked under the floorboards yet ?

The wall you are wanting to remove could (and probably does) support the joists above as well as provide lateral support for the main walls either side.

stuart45

How are you sure the wall isn't load bearing, just by removing the skirting boards?

Section62

Kakes88 said:

I had a structural engineer come round in order to have a look and provide calculations for the steel beam which he has done. However, since removing the skirting from the wall that sits directly above the one to be knocked through, we have realised that it is in fact not a load bearing wall. My question is, shouldn’t he have known that? I can understand why he may have assumed it was load bearing, but surly there should have been more done on his side to ensure that was the case. 

Removing the skirting from the wall above the one to be removed doesn't give any information that would demonstrate the wall below is not loadbearing/structural.

If you think the SE has made a mistake then go back to them and explain what you've seen.  They will then be able to tell you whether that alters their opinion.

In some cases it is hard to be definitive that a wall isn't loadbearing, in which case it is safer to design a solution, rather than hoping you've guessed right.

plumb1_2

Would you expect him to remove skirtings and roll back carpets and take up the floorboards?
Maybe you should have done these before he arrived?
As FB said what is holding the joists up ?

Doozergirl

I've removed skirting from the inside of an exterior wall of a house before and discovered the wall 'floating' two bricks above where it should have been. It was being held up purely by render. 

We had to put bricks back in.  

Aside from this rather frightening and obvious anomaly,  as others are saying there are more ways for a wall to be structural than the one way most people think.  

Mistral001

If the SE's have made a mistake they will want to know about it

Kakes88

FreeBear said:

Have you looked under the floorboards yet ?

The wall you are wanting to remove could (and probably does) support the joists above as well as provide lateral support for the main walls either side.

Thanks for your reply. Had a look under the floorboards and you are correct! 

Kakes88

Section62 said:

Kakes88 said:

I had a structural engineer come round in order to have a look and provide calculations for the steel beam which he has done. However, since removing the skirting from the wall that sits directly above the one to be knocked through, we have realised that it is in fact not a load bearing wall. My question is, shouldn’t he have known that? I can understand why he may have assumed it was load bearing, but surly there should have been more done on his side to ensure that was the case. 

Removing the skirting from the wall above the one to be removed doesn't give any information that would demonstrate the wall below is not loadbearing/structural.

If you think the SE has made a mistake then go back to them and explain what you've seen.  They will then be able to tell you whether that alters their opinion.

In some cases it is hard to be definitive that a wall isn't loadbearing, in which case it is safer to design a solution, rather than hoping you've guessed right.

Thanks for your reply. After having a further look I was wrong and it is as FreeBear suggested. 

stuart45

Kakes88 said:

FreeBear said:

Have you looked under the floorboards yet ?

The wall you are wanting to remove could (and probably does) support the joists above as well as provide lateral support for the main walls either side.

Thanks for your reply. Had a look under the floorboards and you are correct! 

Glad you got it sorted. When floorboards run parallel to a wall upstairs, the joists will be running at right angles to them, and either sitting on top of them, or on joists hangers. 
The only exception is when a trimmer joist is put in parallel to the wall.
This is usually done on something like a chimney structure.

TELLIT01

On a positive note, even if the wall wasn't load bearing, I would rather have something over engineered than under engineered.