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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

The wall! The WALL

66 replies

scorpiogirly · 21/11/2023 14:14

First of all, please excuse the mess. My house is a total tip and the moment.

When these two rooms were knocked into two, there was a piece of wall left as you can see on the left.

This has bugged me for a while and have always wanted it removed. I am doing this now as I want to lay laminate flooring. I wanted to get this done before Christmas but it is not looking likely now.

I have had one quote so far which is £1500. Have more people lined up to come.

My question is, does it look that odd. Would it bother you? And would you pay 1500 to have it removed.

OP posts:
Original poster
scorpiogirly · 21/11/2023 18:55

@ValBiro just on the one side?

OP posts:
Original poster
scorpiogirly · 21/11/2023 18:55

What was the solution if you don't mind me asking?

OP posts:
ValBiro · 21/11/2023 18:46

We have one and I'd never even thought about it until now! To be honest it serves a purpose to divide the room whilst it still actually being open plan, like pp have said.

QuitMoaning · 21/11/2023 18:29

We have something similar and I wanted it removed but turns out it had all the waste pipes from the bathroom above so couldn’t be moved.

In my case I went back to the drawing board and much prefer the solution to my original plans

Tinkerbyebye · 21/11/2023 18:25

Wouldn’t bother me, I would put units up to it. And use the £1500 for something else

when comes out and the risk goes in where is the risk going to rest!

malmi · 21/11/2023 18:23

O'Reilly would do it cheaper but you get what you pay for

myotherkidisacassowary · 21/11/2023 15:45

It wouldn’t bother me enough to spend £1500 removing it, I think it looks fine.

OldTinHat · 21/11/2023 15:43

My room is wider but is exactly the same as yours but on both sides. There is also a pillar in the middle. It was like it when I moved in.

Personally, I think it's great because it separates the two areas whilst still being open iyswim.

Original poster
scorpiogirly · 21/11/2023 15:38

TeaGinandFags · 21/11/2023 15:16

You're being asked for a lot of money because that lump is keeping upstairs up. It is an important structural part of the house and to change it is a big job.

Just work around it and include it in your decorating. Slap some coving up and it's a positive design choice. This is ours.

Do you mean that 1500 is a lot of money for this? See, yours looks fine as it's on both sides. Also really like the colour you have used!

OP posts:
magicstar1 · 21/11/2023 15:17

If I were you I'd pay to get it done properly, as the other side looks completely dodgy too.
We have a kitchen extension that was done a long time before we bought the house. When we were renovating, we realised that we had exactly the same as you, but he RSJ was on a column of half blocks on one side, and nothing on the other. It's supposed to be taking the weight of the back of the house! We had to build two columns up, but now that everything is painted and tiled, it looks great.

TeaGinandFags · 21/11/2023 15:16

You're being asked for a lot of money because that lump is keeping upstairs up. It is an important structural part of the house and to change it is a big job.

Just work around it and include it in your decorating. Slap some coving up and it's a positive design choice. This is ours.

The wall! The WALL
medianewbie · 21/11/2023 15:09

I'd have similar put in on the right hand wall. Not only might it 'look' more balanced but it would support that end of your RSJ (& thus the room above) !

C152 · 21/11/2023 15:09

It wouldn't bother me and I'd leave it. But £1,500 seems very cheap to remove this and re-do the load-bearing lintel.

wonkylegs · 21/11/2023 14:58

If you are doing it you must get proper calculations and building regulations sign off as it's a structural alteration.
Not only for paperwork if you sell but also because that means it's properly designed and fitted and your upstairs wall is unlikely to cave in.
It might be that putting a pad stone (bit that supports the steel) in on that side was more awkward so it's at 90 degrees on a stub wall rather than set in the side wall or they 'designed' the opening for a bit of steel they had that size.
Sometimes there was a perfectly logical idea at the time but everything else has changed so much that logic has been lost.

Nanny0gg · 21/11/2023 14:53

scorpiogirly · 21/11/2023 14:33

Haha this made me laugh out loud. The amount of times that TV has been moved over the course of the last few months...

Show quote history

So was that the chimney breast?

I'm confused

billyt · 21/11/2023 14:50

scorpiogirly · 21/11/2023 14:46

Just on the one side? I don't think it would bother me as much if it was on both sides.

Show quote history

@scorpiogirly

You don't seem to realise it SHOULD be on both sides. Something should be supporting the right hand end.

Unless you're using 'skyhooks'

Original poster
scorpiogirly · 21/11/2023 14:46

yellowlane · 21/11/2023 14:43

It wouldn't bother me and I've just checked and we have a bit like that in our front room.

Just on the one side? I don't think it would bother me as much if it was on both sides.

OP posts:
Sidebeforeself · 21/11/2023 14:45

RSJ … anyone else thinking of Pam from Gavin and Stacey… “ Rolled Steel JoisT! “

yellowlane · 21/11/2023 14:43

It wouldn't bother me and I've just checked and we have a bit like that in our front room.

Original poster
scorpiogirly · 21/11/2023 14:41

TravellingT · 21/11/2023 14:40

Is it a living room? Or dual use room e.g. living/dining, living/office. We can send ideas of how to work around it if we know what furniture needs to go in the room. £1500 is not worth it!

Living room. Sofa, a hair and TV down the front end and dining table to be purchased to go the other end :)

OP posts:
Jessforless · 21/11/2023 14:41

That would really bother me, but I think it’s going to cost you more than £1500 to rectify…

billyt · 21/11/2023 14:40

My concern is regarding the other end of the RSJ. Doesn't seem to be anything supporting that end. You can see where the old brick wall wax removed.

RSJs are fitted to support the wall above when the load-bearing wall downstairs is removed. But you need to support both ends otherwise all the weight is transferred to one end.

I'd get that sorted asap.

TravellingT · 21/11/2023 14:40

Is it a living room? Or dual use room e.g. living/dining, living/office. We can send ideas of how to work around it if we know what furniture needs to go in the room. £1500 is not worth it!

savoycabbage · 21/11/2023 14:38

My next door neighbours have a piece of wall like that and they have sort of what I can only describe as copper plated it. With actual metal, not wallpaper or paint. It looks really good.

SoddingWeddings · 21/11/2023 14:37

£1500 to install an RSJ? Who on earth is quoting that cheaply? Has it been assessed by an engineer? Have they had calculations done for the Acrow props and the RSJ? Or are they doing it "by eye"? Any tests for asbestos been done in the house?

I'm guessing the quote also does not include making good the wall, ceiling and or floor? In which case you'll need to organise and pay for that separately.....