Argh structural problem

garak112

garak112

garak112

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Joined
10 Oct 2011
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936
We recently bought a house and had a lot of work to do, but it was mainly cosmetic.

Unfortunately today by brother in law noticed a sag in the roof above our front door. The door is upvc and sits in a wide opening and clearly the old frame was structural - there is now nothing supporting the bricks on the inner skin of the wall and it has cracked right in the middle.

Any idea what this is going to cost to fix?

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No photo's of the outside view.

I would seriously looking at getting some acrow props supporting everything in the hall sooner than later.
Also a few acrow props & strongboys supporting the outside front wall above the doorway may be needed.

Will be quite a bit of work involved in fitting a steel lintel.
 
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Nightglow said:
No photo's of the outside view.

I would seriously looking at getting some acrow props supporting everything in the hall sooner than later.
Also a few acrow props & strongboys supporting the outside front wall above the doorway.
Click to expand...

There isn't much wall above the door to support - its a single story with the roof starting just above the door and rising to the second floor.

Like one of these houses:
http://www.needaproperty.com/proper...ce=Trovit&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=Premium
 
You could use the wind up jacks they use in bay windows to replace the structural parts then clad round them with plastic trim and a piece of box section above to spread the support with maybe one at either end as well.

http://www.idealwindowsolutions.co.uk/envirobays.html

I'd suggest first getting a couple of acrows one either side of the door with the extension piece on

http://www.erminplant.co.uk/acrow-props.html

Depending what's above you should then get an structural engineers opinion
 
garak112 said:
There isn't much wall above the door to support - its a single story with the roof starting just above the door and rising to the second floor.
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You still having the load from the second floor being transferred down to the ground, so you still need some acrows in the hall supporting those joists above the doorway which are sagging.
Would also inspect the wallplate for any rot while I was replacing the lintel.

Certainly makes the job a lot easier replacing the lintel, quite a simple job, but as Macca as already said, I would get structural engineers opinion.

Any similar signs of cracks/sag over any of the other windows/ doorways in your house?
 
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There is some evidence over the kitchen window (which again is single floor) but not as severe and the window is much older so has obviously been like it for 15-20 years.

Edit: I should add that the kitchen window has a wooden lintel above it so it is not unsupported.

Edit 2: What should I be paying to have a job like that done? If I couldn't afford it would it be ok with acrows holding it up for a few months?
 
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Even with a home buyer survey, it should have been spotted, as a defect that may affect the value of the property.

Acrows would support that all year without any problems.

Might be able to get some new size 1 acrows off Ebay cheaply,when you finish with them, sell them on again, or most hire firms, can offer you a good deal for 3 months or so hire on acrows.
 
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Buy some new ones

Last thing you want is rusty greasy concrete covered acrows in your house.

Fix the head of the acrow as well once wound up with some screws. Stops them falling over as houses move flex expand and contract.

Not a nice thing to have an acrow fall on you or any littluns around.
 
maccapacca said:
Buy some new ones

Last thing you want is rusty greasy concrete covered acrows in your house.

Fix the head of the acrow as well once wound up with some screws. Stops them falling over as houses move flex expand and contract.
Click to expand...

I've edited my post to say 'NEW' Macca, but I got six acrows off Ebay cheap three years ago, they were new, & had only been used by a self builder for one job when building their house.

Usually it's best to sit the acrows on a scaffold board, making sure they are screw in place, & then jacked up against a scaffold board(spreads the load) on the ceiling, again making sure the props are screw to the board.
 
Had my dad round today and he has come up with a plan for repair.

The issue is that 3 joists have dropped half a cm and the brick course is unsupported. He is going to prop up the joists and try to raise them back to level.

A reinforcing beam is going to be placed alongside the wall plate (which is jointed above the door) and screwed to the joists. The bottom course of bricks will then be removed and a 3m steel inserted.
 
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maccapacca said:
You might do more damage than good by trying to get 1/2 cm back. More common place is to stop the movement and repair.
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+1

If it's been sagging for long time, the joists become set in their ways, in past I have a few success in some jobs in jacking up the acrows & leveling things up, but as Macca as already mentioned you can do more harm than good, by putting undue stresses on other timbers, just be careful, & accept defeat if necessary.
 
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