House structural plans

mulbot

Hi people,I'm just looking at a house to buy,but there are some parts I'd like to change,knock out a wall between two rooms(timber stud) and a few other jobs like that. I just would like to know where can i get a look at the structural plans beforehand. Does anyone know where they can be viewed, House is in an estate. Thanks

sydthebeat

Mostly likely there are none if it's a block build

mulbot

sydthebeat wrote: »

Mostly likely there are none if it's a block build

Balls,so I presume I need an engineer in to have a look?

sydthebeat

if your looking to buy it, you should get a pre purchase report done anyway... so it would be an idea to get whomever you choose to look at the feasibility of the proposed works.

however, this would all be based on a visual survey, but should be reasonally easy to do.

really the only way to find out if there are structural details on the build, youd need to know who the inspecting professional was, if theyre still in business, and if they did any kind of detailed structural drawings.

i can say for certainity that the vast vast majority of celtic tiger builds did not have any structural drawings, unless they are timber frame, where shop drawings were produced.

mulbot

Thanks for replies,yea the bank are looking,so I will ask when i get the engineer out,it is a timber frame build,nice enough,just a little box-y for me,just want to open it out a bit,one stud wall between kitchen and dining room.

sydthebeat

as its timber frame you might have more luck getting drawings if the original company still exist.

but just be aware, changing walls in a timber frame house is actually trickier than in a block build.

mulbot

sydthebeat wrote: »

as its timber frame you might have more luck getting drawings if the original company still exist.

but just be aware, changing walls in a timber frame house is actually trickier than in a block build.

Really,is there any reason why,why problems are likely?

sydthebeat

if you think about it, a timber frame build is an engineered homogeneous structure in which all elements interact to support each other.

every piece of timber, the size, strength, centres, noggins etc, are designed to transfer loads.

a ground floor wall can have a significant impact on how the roof is supported.

mulbot

sydthebeat wrote: »

if you think about it, a timber frame build is an engineered homogeneous structure in which all elements interact to support each other.

every piece of timber, the size, strength, centres, noggins etc, are designed to transfer loads.

a ground floor wall can have a significant impact on how the roof is supported.

Yea I get all that,I presume it'll involve an RSJ

BryanF

mulbot wrote: »

Yea I get all that,I presume it'll involve an RSJ

Don't presume

Get an engineer to confirm

Engineered timber would be more appropriate in a timber framed house?

(Note the '?' As this is the Internet and we ain't offer you blind structural advice)

mulbot

BryanF wrote: »

Don't presume

Get an engineer to confirm

Engineered timber would be more appropriate in a timber framed house?

(Note the '?' As this is the Internet and we ain't offer you blind structural advice)

Cheers for the advice,yea the engineer will be part of the purchase,so I'll see what he thinks and recommends before any works.

mickdw

mulbot wrote: »

Yea I get all that,I presume it'll involve an RSJ

It is true that a timber frame is a thoroughly Engineered structure. There will likely be both load bearing and non load bearing internal walls.
Removing a non load bearing wall in such a structure will be childs play. In the case of load bearing, it's possible that the wall may be providing stability to surrounding structure as well as supporting loads from above. Installing a beam where the wall stood may not be the entire solution so professional input is critical.

mulbot

mickdw wrote: »

It is true that a timber frame is a thoroughly Engineered structure. There will likely be both load bearing and non load bearing internal walls.
Removing a non load bearing wall in such a structure will be childs play. In the case of load bearing, it's possible that the wall may be providing stability to surrounding structure as well as supporting loads from above. Installing a beam where the wall stood may not be the entire solution so professional input is critical.

Ok,that's good to know,so will it be possible to find out the load bearing wall from looking under the bedroom floorboards etc,

Gumbo

mulbot wrote: »

Ok,that's good to know,so will it be possible to find out the load bearing wall from looking under the bedroom floorboards etc,

Your engineer should be able to make that call
Tough call to make in a timber frame house without any plans to check against and without opening while sections of walls.

Calahonda52

OP: another clue here is if any of the other houses in the estate have done it: just drive along the road with your Hubble and see has it been done.
All the ones I have opened up from kitchen to sitting room for clients have been where the wall was just an infill built in situ after the factory made panels were erected.

mulbot

Calahonda52 wrote: »

OP: another clue here is if any of the other houses in the estate have done it: just drive along the road with your Hubble and see has it been done.
All the ones I have opened up from kitchen to sitting room for clients have been where the wall was just an infill built in situ after the factory made panels were erected.

Cheers for the reply,I actually did work in these houses when the building was going on and i think the way you describe is how they were built,but I do need to check with the engineer,It will make it a very easy job if so.

kieran.

mickdw wrote: »

It is true that a timber frame is a thoroughly Engineered structure. There will likely be both load bearing and non load bearing internal walls.
Removing a non load bearing wall in such a structure will be childs play. In the case of load bearing, it's possible that the wall may be providing stability to surrounding structure as well as supporting loads from above. Installing a beam where the wall stood may not be the entire solution so professional input is critical.

Non load bearing walls can still be designed as racking walls and contribute greatly to the overall structure and should not be removed without proper design consideration. .Getting the original structural design is essential when doing any work to a timber frame house.