Buying house with internal wall removed

sapper · 16-06-2016 10:15PM #1

Hi

I am looking at buying a house which I know has had an internal wall at the back of the house (leading to a pre-existing lean-to extension) removed by the current owners. This wall supported a span of about 6 meters (the width of the house). I have seen other houses with the same plan built by the same builder with that wall removed, but they all have a (quite obtrusive) supporting wall or column left in the middle of the span.

I guess they must have put in double size/large RSJs in, but I would have thought it would have required extra support in the walls either side, which isnt apparent. And why would other people leave a support in the middle of the same span? So I would like to get some assurance on this before signing to buy.....

I have been surprised to see no mention of the wall removal in the sale documents and no architects report etc. My solicitor says that this isnt really required as its not a planning issue

Would a structural engineer be able to take a look and put my mind at rest? Or would they be unable to tell for sure without opening up the walls? Would a 6 meter gap spanning the width of the house be regarded as significant in the first place?

thanks in advance

BryanF · 16-06-2016 10:44PM

Structural engineer is your best option

Calahonda52 · 17-06-2016 05:34PM

1: as BF says
2: it is a Building Regs issue so your solicitor is wrong to exclude them from consideration
3: what architect reports....?
4: when you say internal wall leading to.... are we talking about the back wall of the house, the terminology is important.
5: the support for such beams is normally about 6" on solid block so depending on what the wall construct looks like it might be fine
6: any SE signing off on this on foot of your commission WILL demand opening up.
7: Normally the seller has to prove this, not the buyer because it would lead to each SE for each prospective buyer demanding opening up....
8: Depending on the loading and the beam size, then 6 m is nothing.
9: anything on any planning file?

Is it a semi d ?

sapper · 17-06-2016 07:25PM

Hi - thanks for reply

2: it is a Building Regs issue so your solicitor is wrong to exclude them from consideration Do you know where I would get the relevant regs?
3: what architect reports....? The original architects report was mentioned in the contracts
4: when you say internal wall leading to.... are we talking about the back wall of the house, the terminology is important. yes it was the back wall of half the house. The other half had lead to a lean to extension via an opening in the wall. The extension is now all the way across with a wide span where the wall and arch was
5: the support for such beams is normally about 6" on solid block so depending on what the wall construct looks like it might be fine Yes sure its fine but think it would be prudent to get this confirmed by a pro
6: any SE signing off on this on foot of your commission WILL demand opening up. If thats true I think I may ask for some comfort off the vendors through the EA directly and see where that gets me

Gumbo · 17-06-2016 08:08PM

Technical guidance document part A. Relevant regulation.
No engineer will sign or offer a structural opinion without seeing the bones of the construction build up, the steel beam and its bearing and where the load is been carried to. This requires opening up works and cannot be done without the vendors permission and to some cost as the works then need to be repaired.

Calahonda52 · 17-06-2016 08:55PM

Am familiar with this set up, the other houses opted to leave the arch beam in place and just add in a new beam for the new ope, where as the house you are looking at they went the whole hog..
Rest as KC and others have pointed out.
case closed: next

OP, if u can edit the subject in the first post as it is not an internal wall as we would understand it

Buying house with internal wall removed

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