ᐅ Opening the Kitchen and Dining Area – Structural Concerns?

We are currently planning the kitchen, and the wall between the kitchen and dining area is going to be removed. How should we approach this? The wall is about 17.5 cm thick (7 inches), and above this wall is the wall of the bathroom on the upper floor.

Is it possible to remove any wall on the property, even if it is load-bearing?
Is a double steel beam always sufficient?
Or is it absolutely necessary to hire a structural engineer?

Thanks a lot!!

Regarding your questions:
1. No
2. No
3. Yes

Lastdrop makes it clear!

Based on your information, it can be assumed that this wall is load-bearing. The wall thickness and the fact that there is another wall above it suggest this, but the structural engineer will give you a precise assessment. They will also calculate what kind of beam or lintel you need to install and what kind of support it requires.

Of course, you can install a significantly oversized beam, but then the question is: oversized compared to what? So, you should definitely have a structural engineer do the calculations for you. Will the opening be made by yourself or by a company (which usually has a structural engineer on hand)?

cschiko schrieb:

Lastdrop hits the nail on the head!

Based on your information, it can be assumed that this wall is load-bearing. The wall thickness and the fact that there is another wall above it suggest this, but the structural engineer will give you a definite answer. They will also calculate the type of beam or lintel you need to install and what kind of support it requires.

Of course, you could install a significantly oversized beam, but then the question remains: how much oversized? So, it’s definitely best to have a structural engineer do the calculations. Are you planning to carry out the opening yourself or will you hire a company (they usually have a structural engineer on hand)?

Thanks for the reply. We plan to do it ourselves but definitely don’t want to take any risks.
I’ll start looking for a structural engineer then…
How much does such a calculation usually cost, roughly?