structural

Hi, I’m in the process of buying this house and as you can see there are issues with the brickwork, concrete lintel and gutters that will need repairing. I am doing my research and read about how poor mortar joints can let in water and cause structural issues. I have concerns as I will...

Hi all, we’ve recently had planning permission approved and now trying to finalise our internal layout before getting in builders for quote. Budget is going to be tight, so one of the key considerations is weighing up whether to do more structural works or make the extension bigger, and looking...

Hey folks, first time (and definitely not the last) poster! I’m putting a side door into my single-skin garage wall. The door will fit almost up to the wall plate that holds the roof truss (there will be no brick above the door). Question is - do I need a lintel, and if so, what would fit? The...

Hi all, I saw this image online and I’m just curious to see if this is structurally a good method to join rafters on top of a ridge beam. In the photo you can see the rafters are beside each other and nailed rather than flush cut and butted up against each other and nailed. To me it has to...

I’ve attached a drawing to show the existing, temporary and final diagrams to help show the question. The structural engineer has designed our loft with 2 floor steels and a ridge steel. The installation of the first floor steel (beam A) is simple, as nothing needs to be removed to install it...

Hi, We are converting a double detached garage at the back of our garden. It will need building regs approval because of the size (45sqm) and being at the boundary on 3 sides. I am struggling with the roof - The open span of it (5.79m) is not even in the span tables so I am imagining we will...

Hi there, My wife decided that the space under the stairs wasn’t being utilised properly so asked me to open up the space to see what could be done with it. I’m wondering if anyone could give me some advice on if this is is structural/supporting brick wall or not? Cheers, Jeff

We are adding blockwall infill to an existing 20’ x 20’ gazebo with concrete columns at all 4 corners. We will anchor the new blockwall infill on top of the existing slab perimeter which is aligned with foundation support then tie the blockwall laterally into the existing columns. How do we...

I have just received planning permission for an integrated garage conversion into a study and shower room. I’m adding an internal door to the hall way, bricking up and popping a window in where the existing garage door is and adding a small window at the side. I am completely ignorant. I have...

Hi, Currently having a new roof installed and they have found rotten timbers and some structural issues. They have done the front side already which also had issues and have asked for an additional 1k to cover the extra work and materials involved with changing some of the timber and adding...

Hi Currently have a builder doing an extension on my home and it requires a 305 steel being installed on posts. My aim/instruction was to 'hide' the beam but putting it higher in the property and the floor joists will then run into it. We have a 305mm steel beam but the cavity wall is 1980s...

Hello, I've just bought a 1930s semi and it has tie bars which my structural survey said suggested minor historic movement, but with no ongoing concerns. However since I've purchased, I've read lots of horror stories about tie bars being red flags for buyers and insurers, and I'm driving myself...

Hi I had a chimney support bracket fitted today. The bracket attaches to a sold brick wall (9"). The wall is a gable wall I specified that it be painted in red oxide paint. However, part of the bracket are not painted in red oxice and indeed some parts were installed with a thin coat of...

We recently bought a circa 1870 semi and have noticed something that seems unusual to me. The horizontal internal walls in the below picture appear to be stud. There appears to be a beam and brick columns about 200mm below the wall to the left of the middle door but none to the wall on the right...

Hi all, First time poster here. As a bot of back ground, im getting a new kitchen fitted. The plumber, sub-contracted out by the builder, came around to do some work today. When I got back, I witnessed the following. He has essentially chased the wall (External gable end wall) through to...

Hi all! On to another project in our home. I have picked up some lime mortar and was planning to chisel out the old mortar on the arch (about an inch), then repoint to strengthen. As well as fill In the holes where bricks have been chipped. My question is. Do you think this arch would be...

Looking for some advice on if it is OK to remove this wall under my stairs. It doesn’t seem to be supporting anything but this is the assessment of two nurses not builders :) I’ve included a picture of our neighbours house who have removed this wall and they have the exact same layout as us...

Hi all, I need to reduce a window opening on the first floor from one large window into two smaller ones. Below the window are two universal beams back to back which are supporting the wall above an opening into an extension (a few courses down, not directly underneath). Before I go employing...

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Hi, I am a new member here, in the process of buying a 3 bed 2 storey 1970's house and have noticed cracking in the masonry where the rear (single storey) extension meets the building. The cracks are stepped and go through both the bricks and the mortar. The extension itself is around 15 years...