Load Bearing Wall removal - Have I got this right?

[Mart_]

....one for the experts.

Have I got this right? (never had this type of work done before)

10ft supporting wall between kitchen / dining room which we wish to remove down to kitchen counter level to create an open plan kitchen diner with a kitchen peninsular between (lower half of wall has electric points and a radiator which we wish to keep, hence not completely removing)

1. Instruct a Structural Engineer who will/would calculate RSJ and submit to building control
2. On completion of permission employ a building contractor to knock the wall down to counter level and install a RSJ
3. Building control inspect and sign off said work
4. Builder continue and make good.

Knowing all things council what would be a normal time frame for the council to process the paper work so we can crack on and employ a builder?

Thanks all!

 

[acurachris]

(lower half of wall has electric points and a radiator which we wish to keep, hence not completely removing)

It will depend on your house and situation, but most ground floor electrics and plumbing run down from under the floorboards, so there's a chance you'll still have some plumbing and electric work to do (unless you know it runs under the ground floor).

1. Instruct a Structural Engineer who will/would calculate RSJ and submit to building control

The structural engineer will tell you what beams to use and provide the load/structural calculations to backup their advice. I don't reckon they'll submit your building regulations application (unless they do the building work too). Their calcs will inform your builder what to do and provide necessary paperwork to appease the council inspector.

If you're project managing this, you'll need to make the council application, organise the struct engineer, builder, inspections etc

2. On completion of permission employ a building contractor to knock the wall down to counter level and install a RSJ

You can submit a building regulation notice and normally start work within a couple of days, so it should all be quite quick really. No need to wait the 5 weeks etc for full plans regulation approval.

Hopefully they'd install the RSJ and then knock the wall down... but i know what you meant!

If you are having someone do the work for you, ask builders to quote now, they may do the whole job for you, submitting to building control, structural calcs and doing the work.

 

[Mart_]

Thanks mate much appreciated. Going to start looking at builders, probably a bonus if they do the full gig so I don't have to worry about owt.

Big cheers!

 

[^woody^]

Check if your council actually requires engineers calculations. Many do not for simple work like this, and equally they might tell you what beam to use.

You can start after 48 hours under a Building Notice.

 

[pilsbury]

Think my BCO said something along the lines of under 4m no SE calcs required. So I did my own guesstimate