About Us:
CC Contractors are originally from Llantwit Fardre near Pontypridd, now based in Barry, and carries out carpentry and building works throughout South Wales and the surrounding areas.
Free quotations, estimates and advice.
Fully insured and NVQ level 3 Carpentry and Joinery qualified.
All enquiries welcome.
History:
I started out at 19 years old studying Carpentry and Joinery at a local college back in 2005, registering as self employed three years later in 2008. I have since gained lots of hands on experience from a mix of working on building sites as a carpenter, and privately working on customers homes on a wide range of projects/jobs.
Although first and foremost a carpenter, I am fully competent at other avenues of construction which have in recent years become trades in their own right, such as drylining, kitchen fitting, room conversions etc, as these were traditionally undertaken by carpenters and are still closely allied to the trade today.
I only undertake work that I am 100% confident of completing to the highest standard I am able to, and I never touch anything that I'm not certified to do so I.e. gas or electrics for safety, legal and moral reasons.
Answers:
Not so much an easy rule of thumb, however if you need to check a ground floor wall is loadbearing generally the upper floor joists will span the shortest distance possible, so if there's a longer span with a wall you're unsure of, the best indication is to check which way the floorboards run on the first floor. floorboards run across joists perpendicular, with the joists bearing on the wall if it is loadbearing. so if the floorboards are running the same direction as the wall beneath, then chances are the wall is loadbearing. with new build houses (last 15 years or so) it's not as easily identifiable as 'i beam' glulam engineered joists are predominantly used which can span much greater distances than traditional timber so you would certainly need to check the floorboards direction. don't assume either that if a wall is constructed from timber that it's not loadbearing, as timber framed houses usually utilise structural walls on the ground floor.
the easiest way to check an upstairs wall is to go up into the loft space and see if there are timber props or struts connected from the roof structure to the top of the wall. if there is then most likely the wall is structural, as it will be supporting the roof purlins and in turn, the rafters. this is most common in a hipped-end roof construction. in this case there would be a ground floor wall underneath the upstairs wall, and the roof load would be transferred down through to the foundations.
the final point to note in older properties with cut roofs not trusses is that an upstairs timber stud wall, although unlikely to be loadbearing, will surely be stiffening the ceiling joists which will probably be 3' or 4'x2' timber, nailed into the top plate of the wall, and providing support to stop them sagging over a large span.
if still unsure, for peace of mind either consult an experienced builder who's prepared to investigate properly or a structural engineer.
bit long winded i know, but you can't be too careful!
Yes, but there are many factors to consider first. you would need to consult a structural engineer to provide a report detailing the size of the steel beam required to support the remaining breast above. if the chimney was on a party wall then the party wall act would come into play, if the building is listed then you may require planning permission, even if the building isnt listed you would require building control inspection and regulations. to carry out the work you would have to insert steel acrow props with strongboy additions, and strut the upper stack securely before touching the stack to be removed. once the brickwork is taken down, a steel rsj beam is inserted onto padstones, packed up tight with slate and cemented in place. this takes the weight of the remaining stack(s).
Yes if house is a listed building, yes if chimney breast is on a party wall if house is not at the end of the terrace as the party wall act comes into play. at the very least you would require building control input and approval so they would have to be notified.
A quotation is not legally binding, as it is only a quotation of cost for work to be undertaken, but a signed contract is unless any terms and conditions outlined have been violated.