Hey, I need help, im out of my element here. I need to determine if a wall is structrual or not. I want to knock it out (preferably by myself) as it's only 1.5m x .14m.
Do I need to get an Engineer or Builder in there? Which one is the better choice? and which is cheaper? If its non-structural can I knock it out myself? It's a Brick wall, the whole unit is brick and built in 1988.
Cheers
FedThe general form of construction for home units is that all walls are load bearing – this is to reduce the cost of construction. To cover yourself you would need to engage a consulting engineer to confirm the construction and to develop the demolition methodology. You will also need development consent from council as it is defined as structural work as well as getting consent of the body corporate (the rest of the building has an implied covenant for a right of support).
IP Freely wrote:The general form of construction for home units is that all walls are load bearingHow can it be load-bearing if it is only 1.5m high?
Cheers, F. [cowboy2]
ass-u-me
he never said it was 1.5m high. 1.5m sounds like the length, and 0.14m the thickness.
anyways, unless you are on the top floor its a no-go.
Hi,
The wall is 2.8×1.5x.14, so 1.5m is the length.
Oh.
In that case, knock it down and see if the roof sags.
A saggy roof almost certainly means it
iswas structural.Cheers, F. [cowboy2]
hi
From your information, it is not enough to tell it is load bearing wall or not. Access roof space and see if anything sit on it. If there are, it is load bearing wall. Is 2.8m the height?? Careful with it when you demolish. Consider the risk, few hundred for engineer inspection may not expensive at all as fixing any damage structural now cost you thousands.BTW,
Builder licensed for build not for structure inspection. It is engineer job. Better go direct to engineer.
CheersHey Fed
Builder and Builder's gf in the house….
Structural walls (on the interior) are generally a solid wall ie. brick or block
If all walls in your home are brick, agreed you should contact an Engineer so they can determine whether it's structural!Good luck!
Beth Ashton
and her bfpointless to pay an engineer unless you have PERMISSION from the body corp!
their decision may then pivot on the engineers report, putting you back at square one, but if you get a "not a snowballs chance in hell" then dont waste your money. as I said, if you are on the top floor, it may not be structural. if you are NOT, then it IS structural.
Excellent input from crashy! I have known this to happen to people who are excited by the project and they decide to get a cost estimate, since they need that to borrow money. They hire an engineer and then they discover that the body corp and council also need to give their blessing.
Better to describe wall dimensions as width x height but floors as length and breadth.
Tell us how it goes.
http://www.improvemyhome.com.au
Improve My HomeIf the roof is a pitched roof, then it is more then likely that all walls including internal are load bearing. If the roof is a trussed roof then chances are that it is not load bearing. I would have a residential structural engineer look at the house, a carpenter(Builder) can use span tables to work it all out properly but with insurance the way it is these days I would err on the safe option.
Good luck
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