Hello
I want to build a horizontal wall. Currently, there is a staircase leading to another floor in that area.
The "opening" where the wall is supposed to go measures 250 x 180 cm (98 x 71 inches).
It should later be possible to walk safely on the resulting ceiling of the upper floor without risk of breaking through.
Additionally, insulation needs to be installed. I have about 30 cm (12 inches) height available for the entire wall. I would also prefer not to use a support post on the lower floor... is this possible?
To be honest, I have no knowledge of structural engineering or building materials, and I cannot afford a professional. However, I am not completely inexperienced and have done a lot of building, just never installed a wall that also has to serve as a ceiling, or more importantly, as a stable floor.
I was thinking of building a frame from wooden battens, adding bracing, drywall sheets (gypsum board) on the top and bottom, and some kind of insulation in the middle.
Does anyone have experience with something like this? What kind of materials should I use?
I am grateful for any advice or recommendations...
Or is this something better left to a specialist? If so, what would the approximate cost be?
Thanks in advance...
Best regards
Florian
I want to build a horizontal wall. Currently, there is a staircase leading to another floor in that area.
The "opening" where the wall is supposed to go measures 250 x 180 cm (98 x 71 inches).
It should later be possible to walk safely on the resulting ceiling of the upper floor without risk of breaking through.
Additionally, insulation needs to be installed. I have about 30 cm (12 inches) height available for the entire wall. I would also prefer not to use a support post on the lower floor... is this possible?
To be honest, I have no knowledge of structural engineering or building materials, and I cannot afford a professional. However, I am not completely inexperienced and have done a lot of building, just never installed a wall that also has to serve as a ceiling, or more importantly, as a stable floor.
I was thinking of building a frame from wooden battens, adding bracing, drywall sheets (gypsum board) on the top and bottom, and some kind of insulation in the middle.
Does anyone have experience with something like this? What kind of materials should I use?
I am grateful for any advice or recommendations...
Or is this something better left to a specialist? If so, what would the approximate cost be?
Thanks in advance...
Best regards
Florian
One thing upfront – this should be planned by a specialist.
Simply filling in the gap by masonry is not an option. The opening must be filled with reinforced concrete or a structure supported by appropriate beams. This requires stable supports.
It may be necessary to remove significantly more material than the existing opening. The “filling” must be securely and sufficiently fixed to resist bending.
You definitely need to consult a structural engineer. They must determine how the construction should be carried out. Anything else is reckless and negligent.
Insulation is normally placed beneath the floating screed, but this also depends somewhat on the current construction. Drywall boards (e.g., gypsum boards) are definitely not suitable as a walkable surface.
Simply filling in the gap by masonry is not an option. The opening must be filled with reinforced concrete or a structure supported by appropriate beams. This requires stable supports.
It may be necessary to remove significantly more material than the existing opening. The “filling” must be securely and sufficiently fixed to resist bending.
You definitely need to consult a structural engineer. They must determine how the construction should be carried out. Anything else is reckless and negligent.
Insulation is normally placed beneath the floating screed, but this also depends somewhat on the current construction. Drywall boards (e.g., gypsum boards) are definitely not suitable as a walkable surface.
Hello haus_ony,
if I understand you correctly, you want to close an opening in a floor slab (staircase opening) so that it can be walked on afterward.
In this case, Jörg is completely right in all his points.
For a project like this, you should definitely consult a structural engineer. They will inspect the site, suggest one or more possible solutions, calculate the necessary cross-sections, and provide valuable advice on carrying out your project.
The fees for the structural engineer will likely be in the lower three-digit range, depending on the effort required. This depends on the local conditions. It would be helpful if, at the time of their visit, the cladding around the staircase opening had already been removed so they can get a precise assessment.
Best regards from the Osnabrück region
if I understand you correctly, you want to close an opening in a floor slab (staircase opening) so that it can be walked on afterward.
In this case, Jörg is completely right in all his points.
For a project like this, you should definitely consult a structural engineer. They will inspect the site, suggest one or more possible solutions, calculate the necessary cross-sections, and provide valuable advice on carrying out your project.
The fees for the structural engineer will likely be in the lower three-digit range, depending on the effort required. This depends on the local conditions. It would be helpful if, at the time of their visit, the cladding around the staircase opening had already been removed so they can get a precise assessment.
Best regards from the Osnabrück region
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