I have 2 parallel brick walls, 2.5m apart. Between and at right-angles to the walls are decking joists (themselves supported off the ground by beams bolted along the walls, to which the joists are attached with angle brackets).
I have cut the joists so that each of their ends is only about 5-8mm away from the brick, and I am now a bit worried that I have not left enough room for their possible expansion on hot days - might they start pressuring the walls and even bowing them outwards if they expand by more than the small gap I have left?
Thanks for any advice!