Knocking internal wall ?

greenhorn22

I want to enlarge my kitchen by knocking a block wall that goes to the utility room. The room will then be 7m X 4m instead of 5m X 4m.
The existing block wall i assume supports the floor above which is a bedroom. What size steel beam (RSJ) would i need to replace the 4m wall or could i use a timber beam ?

There is a block wall on both sides that i can cut out a slot for the beam.
tks

doubtfir3

I would suggest an engineer.. or a builder at the very least..

The size of beam would depend on the weight above it.. height of the walls above, the roof structure etc.. maybe a steel supplier will advise, but for me given the potentially important nature of this I would ask a professional.. and then you can work on the remaining parts of the work yourself!

Sleeper12

doubtfir3 wrote:

I would suggest an engineer.. or a builder at the very least..

Plus one on engineer

Calahonda52

if you ever want to sell the house you will need engineers cert, end of story, so best get it when doing the work so the discussion starts with the builder before any work gets done, then the agreed beam and maybe columns are fitted on supports as agreed and then when done, before its gets cover up, engineer inspects and signs off

To help you get an idea of sizes: this is NOT a design.

The beams are normally either Universal columns 203 by 203 by something between 25 and 60kg/m
or maybe 254 by 254 etc
You also need padstones for support, minimum 6" deep bearing each end.
or two columns, same size as beam, with welds plates, on proper padstone foundations
so a 4.3m beam may weight ups to 250kg so not a one man operation.
The wall above needs to be propped in a few places before any work is done on the wall.

greenhorn22

Calahonda52 wrote: »

if you ever want to sell the house you will need engineers cert, end of story, so best get it when doing the work so the discussion starts with the builder before any work gets done, then the agreed beam and maybe columns are fitted on supports as agreed and then when done, before its gets cover up, engineer inspects and signs off

To help you get an idea of sizes: this is NOT a design.

The beams are normally either Universal columns 203 by 203 by something between 25 and 60kg/m
or maybe 254 by 254 etc
You also need padstones for support, minimum 6" deep bearing each end.
or two columns, same size as beam, with welds plates, on proper padstone foundations
so a 4.3m beam may weight ups to 250kg so not a one man operation.
The wall above needs to be propped in a few places before any work is done on the wall.

Tks for that. When you say the wall above needs to be propped, I presume you mean the ceiling/floor with acros etc. The wall to be demolished is only 1.5m from side of the building and there is only a bedroom above it so a beam set into either side resting on the two 4inch block walls should be ok imo, but I will seek an engineers advice of course.
I am just trying to gauge whats ahead of me before committing to hiring engineer and other costs involved.