Additonal steel support ?

[john east]

A small semi, built 1936 in North London has a hall way passage of width

5'6" (1m 67). They want to remove this dividing wall between the hall and the front room, creating one big space in the front of the house.

Above this downstairs dividing wall, the upstairs dividing wall between the two front bedrooms on the first floor does *not* sit directly above, the downstairs dividing wall.

So the dividing wall upstairs is about a foot away (horizontally) from the dividing wall downstairs.

Is it likely that the dividing wall downstairs can be *removed* without additional support for the wall above?

[NT]

You'd need to look at the joists to see. Pull up a floorboard or 2.

NT

[Roger Mills]

Impossible to answer without more information. What is the upstairs dividing wall made of? What does *it* support (roof beams, etc)? What is the section and spacing of the joists. What is the total span? Are the joists continuous, or does the downstairs dividing wall support short overlapping joists?

[The Natural Philosopher]

No way to tell really.

I'd say assume not until its down with the acrows holding it up and you can see what is above it.

ID its continous joists, well it will probably still be a bit more flexy than it was..but you might get away with it.

But I'd budget on a steel beam frankly.

[John Rumm]

As is always the case, check which way the joists run above. From what you describe however and the age of the place, chances are that wall won't be a supporting one. There may be one that divides the front from the back of the house that is though.

[John Rumm]

Forgot to say previously, might also be worth considering if you do this, you lower the ability of the place to control the spread of fire, and reduce the escape time from upper rooms.