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Frida&Peter28 Jan 2019 10:50Hi everyone,
we are currently renovating a small 90sqm (970 sq ft) house from 1905 from the ground up. We are doing a lot of the work ourselves, but of course we have also consulted a structural engineer.
The ground floor has already been excavated to a depth of 60cm (24 inches) and will receive a completely new floor structure including a new concrete slab.
In addition, we need to rebuild the only load-bearing wall because it is very deteriorated. It will also have a 250cm (98 inches) wide wall opening with a steel lintel.
Now the question:
What comes first – the chicken or the egg? 🙂
Would you pour the concrete slab first and temporarily support the ceiling “floating,” for example with cross beams screwed to the walls, or would you build the load-bearing wall on the bare ground first and then encase everything in concrete?
For your information: The house has a footprint of about 6.5 x 7 meters (21 x 23 feet).
Thanks a lot for your answers!
Frida & Peter
we are currently renovating a small 90sqm (970 sq ft) house from 1905 from the ground up. We are doing a lot of the work ourselves, but of course we have also consulted a structural engineer.
The ground floor has already been excavated to a depth of 60cm (24 inches) and will receive a completely new floor structure including a new concrete slab.
In addition, we need to rebuild the only load-bearing wall because it is very deteriorated. It will also have a 250cm (98 inches) wide wall opening with a steel lintel.
Now the question:
What comes first – the chicken or the egg? 🙂
Would you pour the concrete slab first and temporarily support the ceiling “floating,” for example with cross beams screwed to the walls, or would you build the load-bearing wall on the bare ground first and then encase everything in concrete?
For your information: The house has a footprint of about 6.5 x 7 meters (21 x 23 feet).
Thanks a lot for your answers!
Frida & Peter
That should be answered by the structural engineer. Because if it is a load-bearing wall, the load transfer into the foundation must be ensured. This can be done either with an appropriate strip footing underneath or with a suitably reinforced floor slab.
Strip footing == built before masonry
Reinforced floor slab == masonry built afterwards.
Strip footing == built before masonry
Reinforced floor slab == masonry built afterwards.
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Frida&Peter28 Jan 2019 12:21Thank you, @Domski! We will follow up with the structural engineer again. That was already helpful.
I’m hearing about supporting the ceiling with “firmly screwed crossbeams” for the first time. How is that supposed to work?
If the walls where the beam(s) are to be screwed in were capable of supporting the ceiling, the new wall to be built would be unnecessary. In that case, you could simply rest the beam there. Are you sure you’ve consulted with a structural engineer? ;-)
Regarding the question: At the moment, I don’t see how the floor slab can be poured continuously without embedding at least the (in my opinion necessary) supports for the ceiling. So, it will probably come down to rebuilding the load-bearing wall in sections.
If the walls where the beam(s) are to be screwed in were capable of supporting the ceiling, the new wall to be built would be unnecessary. In that case, you could simply rest the beam there. Are you sure you’ve consulted with a structural engineer? ;-)
Regarding the question: At the moment, I don’t see how the floor slab can be poured continuously without embedding at least the (in my opinion necessary) supports for the ceiling. So, it will probably come down to rebuilding the load-bearing wall in sections.
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Frida&Peter28 Jan 2019 12:33Hi Dr. Hix,
thank you for your reply!
The structural engineer mentioned that the beams themselves can hold up for a while without a load-bearing wall or steel beam. The house is really quite small.
However, it is important to avoid a domino effect. We thought that a temporary crossbeam might serve this purpose—at least until the foundation has dried and the new wall and steel beam for the wall opening are installed.
It’s probably best to have a calm discussion with the structural engineer again. Somehow, we didn’t get clear information on this during the last appointment.
Best regards!
thank you for your reply!
The structural engineer mentioned that the beams themselves can hold up for a while without a load-bearing wall or steel beam. The house is really quite small.
However, it is important to avoid a domino effect. We thought that a temporary crossbeam might serve this purpose—at least until the foundation has dried and the new wall and steel beam for the wall opening are installed.
It’s probably best to have a calm discussion with the structural engineer again. Somehow, we didn’t get clear information on this during the last appointment.
Best regards!
Apart from their load-bearing role in this case, walls often serve a bracing function as well. However, I do not see this function at all provided by a beam under the ceiling.
Either masonry at right angles to the walls that need bracing on both sides, or masonry-supported steel columns are required. I understand that bracing can be temporarily omitted, since the loads such as wind that need to be resisted do not occur continuously. What I do not understand is how this can be done without damage for the ceiling and the permanently acting weight.
Either masonry at right angles to the walls that need bracing on both sides, or masonry-supported steel columns are required. I understand that bracing can be temporarily omitted, since the loads such as wind that need to be resisted do not occur continuously. What I do not understand is how this can be done without damage for the ceiling and the permanently acting weight.
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