We have a two storey side house extension completed in the mid 80s with 205 by 205 column used as beam supporting first floor and external cavity end wall above. Beam is needed as first floor is set back, presumably for planning reasons at the time.
The beam is supported on a pier at the one side and on the cavity wall that forms an external store on the other - effectively a 1m "pier" perpendicular to the side external wall. Store is formed in approx 1m by 1m corner of the extension.
I am looking to remove the store to improve the layout, making the currently "lost" corner part of the room.
From a bit of exploration beam is supported on approx 500mm long padstone on 1m "pier" cavity wall. End of beam is approx 500mm from external wall and does not run through as I had hoped. Room width is 3.7m so beam spans 2.7m at present and is circa 3.2m long.
I am thinking through how to do this and would appreciate any advice. Appreciate I'll need to get structural calcs completed and talk to BC but mechanical engineer so relatively familiar and have completed some rough calcs.
Seem to be three options:
1. Remove existing beam and replace with suitable length one, building conventional pier for support.
2. Extend existing beam by welding new section. Approx 600mm length would need to be site welded. Calc shows around 1.5mm deflection with existing beam size. Beam into inner face of cavity wall and conventional pier constructed.
3. Remove 1m pier and replace with steel column with spreader plates to support existing steel and insert lintel for remaining 500mm opening.
Of course there is a fourth to leave it but the missus is not keen on that!
I know all will work but my concern is the practicality of each using a typical domestic builder. Option 1 will be most disruptive. Option 3 limits space use and will require temp beam support while installing column etc. Option 2 seems preferred but is it reasonable to expect that I could get the welding completed to the required standard. All seem a lot of hassle to remove this 1m by 1m waste of space but it will make a big difference to the use of the space.
Views on what others may have done and what would be the most usual way of dealing with this would be appreciated as I'm scratching my head on the best approach. Thanks.
The beam is supported on a pier at the one side and on the cavity wall that forms an external store on the other - effectively a 1m "pier" perpendicular to the side external wall. Store is formed in approx 1m by 1m corner of the extension.
I am looking to remove the store to improve the layout, making the currently "lost" corner part of the room.
From a bit of exploration beam is supported on approx 500mm long padstone on 1m "pier" cavity wall. End of beam is approx 500mm from external wall and does not run through as I had hoped. Room width is 3.7m so beam spans 2.7m at present and is circa 3.2m long.
I am thinking through how to do this and would appreciate any advice. Appreciate I'll need to get structural calcs completed and talk to BC but mechanical engineer so relatively familiar and have completed some rough calcs.
Seem to be three options:
1. Remove existing beam and replace with suitable length one, building conventional pier for support.
2. Extend existing beam by welding new section. Approx 600mm length would need to be site welded. Calc shows around 1.5mm deflection with existing beam size. Beam into inner face of cavity wall and conventional pier constructed.
3. Remove 1m pier and replace with steel column with spreader plates to support existing steel and insert lintel for remaining 500mm opening.
Of course there is a fourth to leave it but the missus is not keen on that!
I know all will work but my concern is the practicality of each using a typical domestic builder. Option 1 will be most disruptive. Option 3 limits space use and will require temp beam support while installing column etc. Option 2 seems preferred but is it reasonable to expect that I could get the welding completed to the required standard. All seem a lot of hassle to remove this 1m by 1m waste of space but it will make a big difference to the use of the space.
Views on what others may have done and what would be the most usual way of dealing with this would be appreciated as I'm scratching my head on the best approach. Thanks.