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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Building Questions >> Supporting wall or not? https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1490627783 Message started by northernlad on Mar 27^th, 2017, 4:16pm

Title: Supporting wall or not?
Post by northernlad on Mar 27^th, 2017, 4:16pm

Hi all,

Busy planning a new kitchen. In the centre of the exterior wall (between windows) there is 1m of remaining wall protruding on which current units are fitted (suspect most of that wall has previously been removed).
I had a poke into the ceiling and there is a joist sitting on top running along it. All the joists run the same way, horizontally from exterior wall.
There's nothing above the joist except upstairs floor.
Is this small piece of wall load bearing - or is it likely to have been left in only so units could be fitted to it?
Cheers

Title: Re: Supporting wall or not?
Post by woodsmith on Mar 27^th, 2017, 11:02pm

From what you say it sounds like it isn't load bearing but it is a concern that they left this section in place when they removed the rest of the wall. I would get a structural engineer out to have a look just in case it's been left for a reason.

Title: Re: Supporting wall or not?
Post by CWatters on Apr 5^th, 2017, 3:27pm

+1

It might not be load bearing but it might be acting as a buttress to the rear wall. Building regs require buttressing on long walls. I can't remember the max spacing but it might be that removing the remaining bit makes the rear wall one long run that exceeds the maximum.