Wall Removal / Beam Design
When you remove a wall to create additional space, you alter the structure of your building. This process requires suitable support beams which must be designed according to your project specifications. Laytoe ensures the safe installation of all support structures for your knock-through or wall removal.
Our structural engineers determine if a wall is load bearing. We then calculate the size and material of the beams required for safe removal. We’ll also assess the correct size of padstones to spread the load on existing walls – where they support other walls, roofs or floor joists.
- Wall removal advice
- Commercial beam calculation
- Steel, timber and concrete beam calculations
- Calculation for splice connection
- Foundation design
- Steel column and baseplate design
- Cantilever design for use with trusses and slabs
- Underpinning design
If I want to remove a wall, shouldn’t my builder know what size beams I need?
Your builder will only know AFTER a structural engineer has calculated the how much load will be taken by the beam. Laytoe will provide calculations and drawings along with installation recommendations which you can then take to your building control office for approval before your builder orders or installs a load bearing beam.
What advice does Laytoe give for wall removal?
Our structural engineers look at existing conditions and support structures and advise you on the new beams needed to provide support once a wall has been removed. We’ll assess load and span against the type of material needed for the beam. We also need to make sure that the beam shape (rectangular, flanged, steel I etc) is correct for the design as well as other lateral supports – your builder will use our calculations to order beams before removing any walls. We can discuss options for setting the beam into the existing ceiling (into the floor space above) or whether it its more cost-effective to set it below the ceiling.
A crucial piece of advice is to retain all paperwork relating any structural engineer’s calculations in the event that you wish to sell your property in the future.
Do I need padstones if I want to remove a wall?
We’ll be able to assess whether padstones, engineering bricks or steel bearing plates are needed to support and spread the load, or to stop any stresses from fracturing the wall where bearing occurs.