Alternative to RSJ after removing support wall?

[Chems]

If you remove a supporting wall, you normally have to put in an RSJ but this means that its going to break up the ceiling line. Does anyone know of the alternatives to doing this?

Like a new super material?

[modernist]

Yes, Acrow up the ceiling and cut the joists from below. Bolt two 6 x 4 x 10mm angles together back to back, depending on the loading, and poke it up into the ceiling and into the walls either side (You will probably have to go right through one then pull it back into final position. Pack it up tight with slate to prevent any sagging. Board over flush and the job's a good'un. You should be able to re-route any cables above the angles.

[weejohnny]

Please don't listen to this guy. I've seen loads of peeps have a go at this and then pay thousands to have it put right..
The questions that need to be answered are.

Does the wall support both floor joists and the wall.

Is the wall a single skin or a double 9" wall

The length of the wall, a bloody 6" steel is no use to anyone

Most floor joists are 7" but can vary from house to house, so if you are supporting a 10 foot opening or more and have 7" joists the steel size is likely to be 8" and above depending on the load. You can see from that, that the steel will either stick up above or below the ceiling line. The only way over this is to take out the next course so that the steel fits above the upper floor height. This makes it vey expensive because of the remedial work involved
Never be tempted to wedge slate in between the steel and the brick course, for one thing how the hell do you do this if the steel is sitting above the ceiling line. It is always best to lay a bed of mortar on top of the steel and then jack it up. This will take care of any settlement issues.
I

[modernist]

Read the post Wee Johnny "depending on the loading"

And careful who you call a "peep"

[OryxDesign]

to be safe get a structural engineer to do the calcs and spec the beam.

[weejohnny]

Read the post Wee Johnny "depending on the loading"

And careful who you call a "peep"

Your easily offended. I was going to call you something far stronger but forum rules prevented me, FYI "peeps" is short for people.

So you hold up the wall and the ceiling joists by jacking them up. You then "cut the joists" whats holding up the wall now?

You ever heard of "strongboys"

[Doug]

You ever heard of "strongboys"

Jase usually has a couple of them hanging around the workshop, if any one needs some.

[modernist]

Read the post Wee Johnny "depending on the loading"

And careful who you call a "peep"

Your easily offended. I was going to call you something far stronger but forum rules prevented me, FYI "peeps" is short for people.

So you hold up the wall and the ceiling joists by jacking them up. You then "cut the joists" whats holding up the wall now?

You ever heard of "strongboys"

I guess we had a different picture of the OP's situation. It obviously depends what it has to hold up but, in my case, it was joists with breaks and a bathroom above. The method outlined was passed by the BCO and is absolutely solid. If you were knocking the wall out the 55th floor of the Empire State Building then a different approach may be required.

[Chems]

This pretty quickly after I posted, a brick pillar at either end to support the weight an a fairly slim line RSJ and the required 2 layers of plasterboard and it wasn't huge like the ones you see on older houses. I took the plaster board off an old one the other weekend just to see how big it was as it was properly huge. The best bit is the builder who put it in hasn't put it on a pillar at one end and it sits between two windows. And the wall is a little cracked. Hasn't fallen down yet and apparently has been signed off by BCO when it was done a long time ago. Still. . . . .

[mark270981]

I like a little bit of hand bags.

John just be a little careful on how you word your posts we're very civilised round here and try not to disrespect our peers.

I have done plenty of this work and Brians method is one we have adopted on numerous occasions.

I always thought Acrows and strongboys were the same thing?! :confused:

[thatsnotafestool]

Acrows are the adjustable telescopic steel tubes with the 5" flat square plates top and bottom.

Strongboys (not the ones that Jason prefers) are add-ons



Dead useful for sticking into a wall and supporting the brick course above while you fiddle about in the hole underneath.

[weejohnny]

I apologse to Modernist for my tounge lashing, it was Sunday evening which I hate because it brings Monday mornings soon afterwards which I hate even more.

If you want to hold up a wall while inserting a steel beam without the fear of anything dropping on your head. Use Strongboys. The blade will go between the brick courses and the get jacked up by the acrow. You are the free to remove everything from underneath providing you keep them spaced at approx 1 metre centres. Remember if you have a floor or ceiling to hold up as well, this needs to be held up seperately.

Can we put this to bed now