Load bearing wall query

mjd · 5 Aug 2013 at 21:09

I want to try and establish whether or not a wall on the ground floor of our house is load bearing or not. Well, actually I am sure it for several reasons, but want to know if there is an RSJ in place already. The wall separates our sitting room (front) from our dining room (back). Joists for the first floor run across the top of this wall and the wall runs in the same direction as the ridge of the roof. From what I know of the history of the house, it was built circa 1900 and was renovated (poorly) by the last owner in 2004.
Neighbours have suggested that the last owner moved a lot of the original internal walls.The wall in question is hollow when knocked. I understand that a stud wall can be load bearing, but how can I tell if an RSJ is present?

mjd · 5 Aug 2013 at 21:24

I know the joists run front to back across the top of the wall, as the floorboards on the first floor run parallel to the wall. I have no idea how the wall is constructed though. Presumably assuming the presence of an rsj due to it being a load bearing stud wall is just plain silly

There is a dubiously loose floorboard on the landing that seems to line up with said wall so I guess this would be the logical starting point.
In the absence of an RSJ, are there any other methods of supporting the first floor that I should consider/be wary of? i.e If there isn't and RSJ...what should I expect to see

mjd · 5 Aug 2013 at 21:38

I wouldn't go so far as to say idiot, but I would leans towards the idea that the house was a first time project and the standard of finish is/was a little amateurish.

mjd · 5 Aug 2013 at 22:38

The stud wall for the bedroom above isn't on top of the wall in question, it's offset by a good 2ft.
Even if I do find an RSJ, I think I'll employ the services of a structural engineer anyway, just to be the sure its up to job and wasn't installed by the aforementioned weekend diy'er

mjd · 6 Aug 2013 at 16:50

There is a lot to take in there.

There are no openings between the two rooms.
No floorboards on the ground floor.
Span is 6.75m approx
Pretty certain it is a stud wall, as there was mention that the layout was adjusted by moving the walls and just tapping around the wall sounds hollow in general.
It hadn't occurred to me that the joists could be running front to back with no support in the middle.
I'll have to cut out a bit of plaster to see whats going on. There's laminate down on all floors in the rooms above so lifting the boards isn't going to be straight forward.
I have no concerns as such, but we are considering removing the wall to create one long lounge diner. We never use the dining room as it is and the lounge could be bigger.

mjd · 6 Aug 2013 at 19:19

Its a stone semi built 1900.
The wall sounds 'cosmetic', but it would sound as if there is only one way to really know.
I'll try having a word with my 86 year old neighbour. He has lived here from birth and has worked on just about every house in the street at some point in his life.

mjd · 6 Aug 2013 at 19:29

Sat in the lounge the following just occurred to me.

The walls in the house are a combination of dot and dab over brick/stone and stud walls.
Being a bit of a bodger, the previous owner left the screws visible on the skirting on every stud wall. The wall in question has said screws visible on both sides.....so definitely a stud wall

(I think)

mjd · 6 Aug 2013 at 19:48

Definitely no stone separating the rooms as it stands now. Neighbours have suggested walls were removed, so perhaps there is some sort of supporting structure above the wall. I'll have to post a few pics.