Wall support over I beam

[RzB]

Removing the ceiling during our kitchen refurbishment I have exposed a supporting I beam. The upstairs floor joists rest on the beam and there is a wall above of "breeze" block construction. I was surprised at the support between the top of the I beam and the bottom of the upstairs wall.

On top of the beam is placed a brick, and on top of the brick are pieces of roof tile. The tile pieces are packed in up to the bottom of the upstairs wall.

See photo...

This photo is taken looking up from the kitchen...

Is this OK? If not what should I be doing about it?

Many thanks, Roy

[MikeH]

What - no mortar? Doesn't look right to me. Ask yourself if you'd be happy to show it to the local BCO ;-)

I had an RSJ installed when I built a kitchen extension and removed the existing window at the back of the house to provide an open plan kitchen and dining room. The existing arch above the window was retained and the load transferred to the beam using bricks set in a bed of mortar. The area between the arch and the beam was packed with tiles in mortar.

If the wall above the beam in your photo requires support I would imagine that the load needs to be transferred to the beam via a 'proper structure' - not a loose pile of tile and brick.

Hopefully you'll get a more expert opinion than mine, but I'd be concerned about the existing arrangement.

Mike

[RzB]

Mike, Thanks for the response. I think I will apply some mortar to the exising tile bits. It has been in place since the sixties so I guess it's not about to colapse ! Hopefully...!

I was hoping to get some expert advice / options here prior to talking to BCO... :-)

Many thanks, Roy