Knocking down a wall

[kerfuffle]

Now this is causing me some concern. I have a cupboard I want to remove. It is a floor to ceiling job containing a boiler and water tank, and is pretty sturdy. I've asked a couple of people about it and the concensus seems to be 'Ave at it my son!' Seeing as there is cornicing inside the cupboard and the room almost certainly didn't have this cupboard when the house was built (1900) I'm inclined to agree as, while it's a bloody sturdily built cupboard, surely it can't be load bearing.

However part of me is still a bit worried. Any advice?

[Incorrigible]

What's above it ??

[kerfuffle]

A roof

[ChelseaTractor]

Have a look above it. I'm presuming that it's upstairs? I would wager that the joists go straight over the cupboard wall and join/butt on the top of the main wall. In my experiance of this kind of thing I would say it would be safe to take down.















But I will visit you in hospital if not. HTH.

[up-the-dubs]

A cupboard is never load bearing. Look at the general shape of the room, the main walls are, if anything, load bearing. Not a slip of wood.

Built in 1990, most interior walls are not bearing much load anyway, that can't be replaced by a 2x4 or similar. Mainly stud walls or metal track, which you could walk through.

But don't 'ave at it! you'll be ages tidying up the mess you made from that one swing of the hammer that hit the perfectly smooth plasterboard! Unscrew it, remove it. Job well done.

[kerfuffle]

Ah no, it seems to be made of stone or something. I'll remove the boiler first but I reckon the plaster surrounding the wall will be damaged. It's a square room with this small wall making the cupboard in one corner. It makes so sense for it to be load bearing, but I'm just looking for some reassurance before I go banzai and wonder why I can see daylight above.

[kerfuffle]

up-the-dubs said:

A cupboard is never load bearing. Look at the general shape of the room, the main walls are, if anything, load bearing. Not a slip of wood. Built in 1990, most interior walls are not bearing much load anyway, that can't be replaced by a 2x4 or similar. Mainly stud walls or metal track, which you could walk through. But don't 'ave at it! you'll be ages tidying up the mess you made from that one swing of the hammer that hit the perfectly smooth plasterboard! Unscrew it, remove it. Job well done.

1900 mate, not 1990! The cupboard wall seems strong enought to repel marauders

[BliarOut]

We want pictures

[kerfuffle]

Of me trapped under a pile of rubble, cursing PHers?

[BliarOut]

kerfuffle said:

Of me trapped under a pile of rubble, cursing PHers?

Oh

[up-the-dubs]

kerfuffle said:

up-the-dubs said: A cupboard is never load bearing. Look at the general shape of the room, the main walls are, if anything, load bearing. Not a slip of wood. Built in 1990, most interior walls are not bearing much load anyway, that can't be replaced by a 2x4 or similar. Mainly stud walls or metal track, which you could walk through. But don't 'ave at it! you'll be ages tidying up the mess you made from that one swing of the hammer that hit the perfectly smooth plasterboard! Unscrew it, remove it. Job well done. 1900 mate, not 1990! The cupboard wall seems strong enought to repel marauders

Too early in the morning for me!

Careful then. Parents house is 1930. Renovations and extensions in the past have thrown curveballs left right and centre. Crazy houses.

[sleep envy]

kerfuffle said:

A roof

If the joists above run across the wall uninterupted (i.e. not joined) then it won't be load bearing.

Just be careful when you do demolish the wall that the debris doesn't bounce on the floor as you could end up damaging the floor you're standing on and any finishes to the ceiling below could crack.

[marcos maniac]

How thick is the wall 4-5inches (single skin brick wall - plastered over?)

go up in the attic and check the ceiling joists aren't supported/resting on it - they shouldnt be!

whats in the room below it???

[kerfuffle]

Tell you what though, while everything's being ripped apart, I might take this opportunity to install a Colonel Bogey klaxon in the dunny

[ChelseaTractor]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Most probably nasty black dusty lytag blocks. Yuk.

Start at the top and work your way down, block by block. Keep the mess down like.

[kerfuffle]

To answer Marcos and Sleepy, a sitting room with a fancy ceiling is below. Not to worry, I'm sure any debris will land on my foot before it hits the floor. I can be rather accident prone.

[sleep envy]

marcos maniac said:

go up in the attic and check the ceiling joists aren't supported/resting on it - they shouldnt be!

The joists should be resting on the wall as it would need lateral bracing to stop it falling over.

[Incorrigible]

I see from you profile you're in Guildford, I'm only down the road (Horsham) if you're that unsure I can pop over

[kerfuffle]

You just want to laugh at me knocking a wall down onto my foot don't you?

Very kind offer - I may well take you up on that when I muster the courage to ruin my manicure. I won't be doing anything until the weekend.

[Incorrigible]

One evening would be better for me, I'm still finishing some DIY of my own

www.pistonheads.com/members/mytopics.asp?p=24

Long project this one, been going more than 2 years already