Is this structural, can I remove it?

[Barking Mat]

@KemppiFrog , I like to save as many original elements of the original house as possible, regarding the stairs. I'm not sure if it's possible, but, we'll see, they're damn solid, just a bit short.

We like 'character', I was initially thinking of plaster boarding the kitchen walls, but wife pointed out if we wanted something perfect, there are lots on new build housing estates, but that not our thing..

We like a drawn out struggle....

 

[mtt.tr]

Oh yes

View attachment 224763

Ah you snob,


I didn't just get excited watching my bottomless filter, perfect pour, perfect crema.

 

[Barking Mat]

Explain @mtt.tr , I just have an Italian stainless thing on the gas hob, I love it.

 

[brightspark]

evening mr b still alive then and the house hasn't fell apart major diy for me tomorrow been putting it off for 4 years test the wiring in my house and change the db to an 18th edition one I wonder if theres any faults only me to blam,e if there is I rewired it 25 years ago

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

hasn't fell apart

Yet...........

 

[mtt.tr]

Explain @mtt.tr , I just have an Italian stainless thing on the gas hob, I love it.

First thing i did when i bought an ac tig was make this.

 

[Screwdriver]

@Screwdriver , I was ready to pull it out, thought I'd ask...

That sewed the doubt in my head..

I liked @roblane65 advice, but it was @KemppiFrog , who sealed it, added to the fact it had to go.

The beam was bearly 10cms in the above photos wall, and tied to nothing, however 25cms in the other wall.

I took one out to the right, two / three years ago, nothing moved.

Then all the conjecture... Even with structural experts, you've no legal recourse...

I'm a bit spur of the moment, and not frightened of too much either (insane, in a semi calculated kind of way..).

And if it all goes wrong I've only myself to blame, and a screaming wife obviously..

I am convinced they are not in fact tie beams as I first surmised but they are (or were) still major structural elements. Then there are the strange "cut offs" which are attached to the roof joists (or purlins <whatever>), I would like to know what they were and what job they did since it does look like a new roof has been made at some point. Then you go on to suggest you have dug out the floor which effectively raises the height of the walls.

Like playing Jenga but with a house...

 

[Seadog]

Then there are the strange "cut offs" which are attached to the roof joists (or purlins <whatever>), I would like to know what they were and what job they did

To stop someone falling off the edge, perhaps?

 

[Barking Mat]

@Screwdriver , wife and I were discussing this earlier...

We're not sure how much of the house was originally there, how much has been added to etc.

If you look carefully at the photo after I removed the beam, it kind of looks like the wall from above the ceiling trusses dates later? It's all heavily over engineered by my non professional eye.

Regarding the cut off bits attached to the roofing structure, I suspect (?), This spreads the weight a little of the descending diagonal beam...?

I don't pretend to know what I'm doing.. I'm just a bit 'gung ho', I guess.

Probably not very sensible, but hey!

I'm not taking any more out, just needed to put a staircase in.

Could have all fallen down anyway.

Like last christmas, when the gable end of my other house started collapsing on the neighbours. That was a fun christmas, dismantling and rebuilding that...

 

[Barking Mat]

The majority of the roof was replaced in 2000, after horrendous storms over here. Shame they didn't do it all.

 

[Gareth J]

I would have said before if I'd realised you would bite the bullet, but still a sensible idea; mark two stones, near to where the beam was in each wall. Measure the distance between the marks and write it on one of the stones.

Then you can check it if you fancy/think it's moving/think you're going paranoid.

Good on you for making a decision! Shame on you for cutting that nice old beam into 3!!!

 

[Barking Mat]

@johnser , I'm still wondering how I'm going to move the bits.. They're damn heavy, wife foresees me using them for the missing steps.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

These are handy.
Left mine on Jersey.

 

[roblane65]

good move barking I'm proud of you Keep as many of the nice features as you can . Always amazed when barn conversions were at their height ( you could get a barn and bit of land for around 10 grand and everyone was wanting one so you can tell how long ago that was )just how many clients wanted to cover , square up everything to the point it might as well be a new house, always thought why did you buy it if you don't want old ?
once the floors in you could just build a landing at the bottom as long its some where near the same rise of the stairs/

 

[Barking Mat]

@roblane65 , that's what we're thinking, or just continue it down...

 

[Screwdriver]

@Screwdriver , wife and I were discussing this earlier...
We're not sure how much of the house was originally there, how much has been added to etc.
If you look carefully at the photo after I removed the beam, it kind of looks like the wall from above the ceiling trusses dates later? It's all heavily over engineered by my non professional eye.
Regarding the cut off bits attached to the roofing structure, I suspect (?), This spreads the weight a little of the descending diagonal beam...?
I don't pretend to know what I'm doing.. I'm just a bit 'gung ho', I guess.
Probably not very sensible, but hey!
I'm not taking any more out, just needed to put a staircase in.
Could have all fallen down anyway.
Like last christmas, when the gable end of my other house started collapsing on the neighbours. That was a fun christmas, dismantling and rebuilding that...

Sometimes it's best to just get on with it, I have no issue with that and if you've stood there and looked at it and decided it looks strong enough, I'm not going to argue with you. After all, all I have to go on is a set of pictures so my comments are made only on that basis.

I would chase the "phantom" ends of those cut off (have they been cut off??) odd bits, see if they run over to the other side into a phantom hole etc. They might have formed part of the original roof structure.
I'd be more worried about taking the level of the floor down if there was soil piled up on the outside but, no pics - no worries.

I am slightly jealous of that lovely old beam. Fabulous bit of wood right there and I could stare at that for years deciding what to do with it.

 

[Barking Mat]

Cheers everyone!

Thanks for your help.

Beers on me, and I'm well advanced..

To the Welders Arms..

 

[Barking Mat]

@Screwdriver , that's the problem, you can spend ages just looking at stuff and just contemplating the pros and cons, and whether you should or shouldnt..

Once again when @KemppiFrog stuck his advice on it just chimed.... It is / was a heavy duty floor support.

Sorry I've had a few beers, repeating myself.

The ground is higher on the outside, and there are 12" of foundations, whoop, foundations! Unusual on old French buildings.

then there's the issue of the water table when it floods here.

 

[roblane65]

A decent size landing at the bottom of the stairs is probably an easier option than trying to extend them
you may even need two tread height all depends on final floor finish height. you could then come of the landing at 90 degrees to stairs.

 

[Barking Mat]

No, @roblane65 , straight down, ping pong, roller blading, skittles etc.. Priorities.... Your invited to the bar, I'm buying...