Do I need to inform anyone or get permission??

[bethiboo]

Hi,

Newbie to the site and DIY

I'm just after a quick word of advice from anyone who might be able to help.
I'm wanting to knock down the wall between my seperate bathroom and toilet, I don't think it's load bearing as it sits in the middle of my kichen down stairs
How will I know?
Do I need to inform B/C? (if so why??)
Do I need permission from them before I start?
Where do I start knocking through from top, middle or bottom?

Thanks
(in anticipation)
Beth

 

[OwainDIYer]

It might be load-bearing in that it provides lateral support for other walls or even helps hold the kitchen ceiling up by suspension. A good builder can advise.

You need to inform Building Control as you are affecting th layout of rooms and removing a structural element (even if it isn't load-bearing). You can do the work on a building notice if you're confident of the work being approved.

You start by knocking through from the top as otherwise hard stuff lands on your head.

 

[JonCa]

Whats the wall construction stud, block, brick?
Whats above it in the loft?

 

[bethiboo]

Whats the wall construction stud, block, brick?
Whats above it in the loft?

I'm not sure, I think its brick. It's tiled on both sides so hard to tell, it doesn't "sound" solid!

 

[bethiboo]

OMG
I've just had a quick look at my LA building notice page as far as I can tell they'll charge me £180 for me to tell them I'm knocking my bathroom and loo into one????
Or am I getting that wrong??

http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=10059&p=0

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

You need to inform Building Control as you are affecting th layout of rooms and removing a structural element (even if it isn't load-bearing).

If its not structural or loadbearing then it is not notifiable.

Bethiboo, there are hundreds of threads in the building section that will tell you how to check if your wall is loadbearing or not, look through that section of the forum and/or do a search eg //search.diynot.com/forum_search.php?sortbytime=0&q=is+this+wall+loadbearing&stype=0&page=1

Check whether it is loadbearing or not, once you know that you know if Building Regs apply or not.

Assuming your house is traditional ie with masonry external walls check if its timber stud or masonry wall. A dull thud when you knock it will be masonry, a hollow sound will be stud or just chip some plaster off you will soon find out. If its stud it won’t be providing any lateral support. Then check at the top (or from above) whether any of the floor joists in the rooms above bear onto the top of the wall, we assume there isn’t a wall immediately above it on the first floor? See which way your floor boards run upstairs, the joists will be perpendicular. Then come back.

 

[noseall]

If the house was built during a certain period, i.e 60's, 70's 80's etc, then there is a chance the upstairs walls are partition block walls, whereby they are masonry but only in a partitioning sense.
Look at the door linings/casings, If they are no more than 4" then the walls are 3" partition block.
They are likely to be built with the blocks sticking through the loft ceiling a little bit, so will be visible from within the loft.
Another partitioning give-away is the fact that the upstairs partition walls do not align with any of the walls below.

 

[^woody^]

A wall built off a first floor is not load-bearing

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Gah!

/note to self, must read original posts more thoroughly!

 

[chapeau]

A wall built off a first floor is not load-bearing

We've got load bearing walls built off the first floor.