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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Building Questions >> Detection of ceiling load bearing beam https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1409073060 Message started by Fholler on Aug 26^th, 2014, 6:11pm

Title: Detection of ceiling load bearing beam
Post by Fholler on Aug 26^th, 2014, 6:11pm

Hi
2 years ago we knocked a stud wall between our kitchen and living room areas to open up the space. Kitchen is about 3m long and living room 6m. We occupy the ground floor of a 3-storey Victorian converted house.
The builders said at that time that they had definitely seen a girder or joist (not sure if there is a difference) above the ceiling and halfway down the length of the living room and therefore we didn't need a new one. This didn't surprise me as the living room was extended about 60 years ago like all other houses on the streets so they must have added some sort of reinforcement at that time.
However, rather stupidly I did not check this for myself and relied on the honesty of the builders. The house hasn't moved since, but it frustrates me more and more not to know for sure. Is there a way to know for sure if there is a load bearing beam above the ceiling without making a hole in the ceiling?
Many thanks
Fholler

Title: Re: Detection of ceiling load bearing beam
Post by woodsmith on Aug 27^th, 2014, 11:11am

You could try using a metal detector and see if it shows a large piece of metal. Otherwise you could use a hole cutter to cut a hole in the ceiling, about 50mm diameter would be enough, once you have had a peer through, the piece you cut out with the cutter can be fixed back in place with Polyfilla.