I've just discovered that the cause of our dipping bedroom floor is an unsupported load bearing wall.

Directly beneath the bedroom wall (towards which the floor dips) is an opening between the living room and dining room (these would originally have been separate rooms). This opening constist of lightweight timber glazed screen with double doors but want to keep the coving and ceiling undamaged!

I'm not sure when these rooms were knocked though but it probably happened in the last 10 to 20 years. However, I am sure that the job wasn't done properly as there doesn't seem to be any lintel or RSJ.

There is no cracking in the adjacent coving or along the downstairs ceiling which leads me to believe that I'm in no immediate danger of the house collapsing.

My question is how big a job will it be to insert a lintel or RSJ over the opening and approximately how much will it cost? I'm not bothered about loosing the screen and doors but want to keep the coving and ceiling undamaged!

It also appears that there aren't any bricks in the remaining edges of the wall (ie no peers), just plasterboard!

Its a victorian mid terraced property.

Any help or advise would be appreciated!

I don't see how you will be able to fit a steel in without damaging the ceiling and coving? Anyway you will probably need to box the steel in, which will mess with your coving and ceiling.

Thanks for all the replies.

CWatters - this is the conclusion that I've come to.

Now I've got the job of getting a reputable builder.

Is the FMB a reliable source?

I live in East Yorkshire.

Cheers.