The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Sun Oct 31, 2010 9:38 pm**

Hi
well the jobs just keep comming

i live in a 3 bed semi and ive been taking the ceilings down as ive got problems with movement and the ceilings aswell..

any way whilst removing them ive noticed my current rsj that is in my house (a throu .ounge conversion) is only sitting on the piller of the support by 4. 5 inches and has wood above and below it, and has cracked all round and more above it.

we have had a problem of some movement in the room above.

my neighbour has the same sort of set up in his house and has no problems. he does not have any piller at one end of his and it goes in the party wall, we would like the same if we can.

my questions are..

1. can i fit a new one.

2. what size do i need.

3. at the party wall end can i fit it so i have no piller or not, if not can some sort of plate be fitted to the rsj to enable this so that it can be plastered over.

4. what sort of cost and whats the best place to get the rsj i need.

i will try and load some pictures up to show what i mean at some stage.

the rsj is 140mm that is fitted at the moment. and my internal walls are 137 inches.

many thanks for any help or advice as i need it very much..

simon

Posted: **Sun Oct 31, 2010 11:07 pm**

you really should get a structural engineer top advise you on this mate,plus building control to sign off any structural work

most internal steels are either 178 by 89 or 205 by 102 and generally they sit on a 450 by 225 engineering brick padstone

regards LLL

Posted: **Mon Nov 01, 2010 6:15 pm**

LLL many thanks for the info on this i know someone who works here would they be ok to advise me please.

a guy ive known many years

thanks simon

Posted: **Mon Nov 01, 2010 7:03 pm**

yes, but as tony said you will need to get all structural work signed off by building control who will also be looking for some form of structural engineers report on loadings etc. another way to look at it, would you buy a house that had been subject to structural design changes under the remit that the seller states. that his mate says it`s ok......?.

Posted: **Tue Nov 02, 2010 6:27 pm**

yer i take your point this is a house that ive lived in for over 20 years and it was done then dut over the years it has dropped..

thanks simon

Posted: **Sun Nov 07, 2010 10:55 am**

rimexboy wrote:yer i take your point this is a house that ive lived in for over 20 years and it was done then dut over the years it has dropped..

thanks simon

Simon,

It is not that unusal to come across old structural work that was not done quite right.

I understand that you don't want to spend more than you need to on something that was done so long ago and except for some limited movement, has stood the test of time.

The problem is, you really can't do anything about it just off your own back. Now you know there is a problem, you need to get it fixed. The only way to do this is to get building control involved to approve any change/repair, so that irrespective of whether you use an engineer, a good local builder or yourself (if you were qualified to do it and I regret you are not, otherwise you would not be asking).

By far the biggest risk is carrying out the work. Temporary supports, sequence of work etc. all have to be planned out ahead. You risk a collapse if you do it wrong yourself.

It definately needs looking at by some-one with the right experience. There could be all sorts of issues that you are not aware of. Please don't attempt to do something yourself like you are suggesting, based on the very limited advice a forum can give you.

Posted: **Sun Nov 07, 2010 1:25 pm**

if building control get involved the first thing they will ask for is engineer's calcs
100 % i deal with them every week on these matters
any builder worth his salt knows a 178 by 89 will be good for a 3M span but they need it in writing
plus as i mentioned if you come to sell your home,its the first thing the surveyor will ask for
LLL

Posted: **Mon Nov 08, 2010 7:46 pm**

Blagard wrote:Please don't attempt to do something yourself like you are suggesting, based on the very limited advice a forum can give you.

Good advice

The Brew Cabin

Rsj advice needed please