Small opening in load bearing wall

[DerMitchie]

So first of all - this isn't something I would attempt myself - but I would like some advice as to which path to take:

The green is the proposed opening. Steel number one just holds up a flat roof, steel number two is there to prop up steel number 3, which is bearing the load of the side wall of the house, with a floor above + the substantial roof space.

Now the jury is out: Two builders have said 'no problem' and would simply place a lintel above the opening. Two further builders have said that it's likely not possible and that a static engineer should be consulted.

I'm naturally cautious, so would go with option 2, however if you consider the survey cost + the calculations, you're at over £1000 to get a smallish opening, albeit an effective one.

The fear is that what's left of the wall that steel 2 is resting on will not be able to bear the load from steel 3. What I don't know is how far along steel 2 reaches, whether it's just on a pad on the corner or actually stretches further along the wall, i.e. above the potential opening.

So - experienced builders - what's your view?

 

[jake7462]

A builder won't be able to reliably tell you whether or not that pier is strong enough - you need a structural engineer.

The small pier you'd be left with probably won't have sufficient strength to support beam 2. You won't know how far beam 2 spans onto the wall until you strip off the wall finishes, but very unlikely to even reach the proposed opening you've marked up.

 

[^woody^]

How thick is the wall, what material?

 

[DerMitchie]

How thick is the wall, what material?

The wall is made of brick, Victorian, previously and outer wall. About 10.5in thick.

 

[DerMitchie]

A builder won't be able to reliably tell you whether or not that pier is strong enough - you need a structural engineer.

The small pier you'd be left with probably won't have sufficient strength to support beam 2. You won't know how far beam 2 spans onto the wall until you strip off the wall finishes, but very unlikely to even reach the proposed opening you've marked up.

thats what I thought.

Re static engineer: 275+VAT for initial survey and then 350+VAT for calcs - sound reasonable?

 

[^woody^]

About 10.5in thick.

The pier? 10.5" x 10.5"?

 

[jake7462]

thats what I thought.

Re static engineer: 275+VAT for initial survey and then 350+VAT for calcs - sound reasonable?

Sounds a bit much to me... are you in london?

 

[tony1851]

As above, seems a lot for a check on a pier.

Whether the pier would be sufficient depends on:

1. The load imparted by beam 1, and the load imparted by beam 2 (for which you need the relative position along beam 2 of beam 3);
2. The thickness of the wall (10.5"?); the width of the pier; the width and height of the proposed opening.
3. the state/type of brickwork of the pier.

As we know none of this, no-one on here will be able to give you a definitive answer.