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When we consider a structural knock through or opening in a wall, the procedure is not so different to perhaps creating an opening in a wall for a new window or door. But, this does not mean that the materials will be of the same specification as each individual job will possess its own structural requirement.

Is The Wall A Load Bearing Wall?

The first thing to be determined is whether or not the structure you plan on altering is load bearing or not. It will be necessary to carry out some elementary checks to know for sure whether it is load bearing or not.

Just Exactly What Is A Load Bearing Wall And How Do We Deal With It?

If a wall has any other structure above it or load as the case may be then we can consider this wall to be load bearing and as such will need to accommodate any necessary support when removing any part of it. It is quite common in many houses for dividing walls to carry the load of the first floor joists. They will therefore need some sort of support before any alteration can be made.

Supporting the load is commonly achieved by the use of steel acrow props which are inserted into the wall alongside timber needles to offer support whilst removing part of the structure

How To Tell If A Wall Is Non Load Bearing

If the joists run at right angles to the wall then it is almost certainly carrying a load from first floor level and provisions will need to be put in place to support the load. If the joists run parallel to the wall then it is unlikely the wall is carrying any timber joists etc, but may however, still be carrying another load. You can clarify this by making some inspection holes at ceiling level and also going upstairs to see if you can see what runs on top of the wall.

For most room opening jobs or knock through’s though, you will be making your opening at a height of around 2.5 metres leaving a about 0.5 metres from the ceiling so in any case, there will still be a load to support

The Process Of The Knock Through

OK, so we will assume that you now know the load bearing status of the wall so you can now start to prepare the job ahead. You will need to check some basic things first. Are there any heating appliances on the wall that need taken off? Are any electrical sockets in the way? If they are, you will need to get your plumber and electrical contractor to ensure any wiring or plumbing changes are carried out prior to the work being commencing.

Structural Calculations Are Vital

Prior to any structural modification you must have the load calculated by either a capable builder or preferably a structural engineer. Each job is different and may warrant a different set of rules to accommodate different loads of a structure. Typically on a domestic single leaf knock through with perhaps a 2 metre opening in a load bearing wall, a steel RSJ would be put in place to take the load above. The dimensions of this RSJ will vary and in all cases must adhere to current building control, who in all cases will want to inspect any such structural alteration. If you are in doubt at any stage of the job, you should contact your building officer for help and guidance. Remember, they are there to help you.

The Initial Stages Of The Structural Alteration

Mark the area out on the wall to reflect the opening you are planning. Additionally, mark out the where the supporting RSJ or lintel will go. The RSJ should lay on a concrete pad stone and have a minimum 6 inch bearing on each side of the wall opening.

With a lump hammer and bolster, chop out the plaster from the wall to show the brickwork beneath. Repeat this procedure on both sides. Now make holes in the wall, for every metre, above where you will be positioning the steel RSJ. It is in these holes that you will place your needles which are held up by acrow props. These props will take the weight of the structure until you get the steel RSJ in place.

Clean your work area and prepare any necessary platform to make your work easier for when it comes to lifting in the steel RSJ. Fitting the RSJ will need a minimum of two strong men. You will also need to ensure the RSJ has fixing points to fix your plasterboard to afterwards when making good the plasterwork and alteration.

The RSJ should be on pad stones with 6 inch minimum bearings either side and bedded on a firm mix or sand and cement at a ratio of 3:1. Once the steel is in bedded you must check for level and plumb and when satisfied build up the brickwork from on top to make a tight fit between existing brickwork and steel RSJ. Use slate to pack in and close any gap.

You should leave any supports in place until the next day or when the mortar set hard. After this point it will be safe to take them out. Afterwards, fill in the holes you made for the timber needles with leftover bricks and point up and pack in tight with slates.

The process of carrying out any structural modification should only be undertaken by a fully competent and experienced builder. All structural works should have loads professionally calculated before any part of a structure is removed. If In any doubt, contact your local building inspector for help and support.

The concept of kit homes is suited to the Australian lifestyle. buying and building a home in general appears to be a challenging task, and Kit based homes cover all aspects related to house building, be it supplies, architects, designing, renovation, architecture, construction and so on. Opting kit homes also saves out on a lot of money, whether it be any number of homes with all kinds of levels. These homes hose all modern architectural options and provide great outdoor plans with decks and patios. All Homes are custom made according to customer requirements at affordable prices using professional services, and are made exactly in the layout design provided by the client without any preconceived ideas.

Kit Homes also give the additional option to the client to design his home. Kit Homes come in different types, such as cyclone resistant ones and eco-friendly ones. In general, building homes by kits is a much faster process than making traditional ones, as all materials are shipped at one go and built steadily using an instruction manual. These kinds of homes gives the owner to take active part in building his home, as by obtaining owner builder’s license, he can erect a lot of steel railings himself without getting his hands dirty with other manual work.

Such homes are very durable and do not deform or decay with changing surroundings. This makes home maintenance in the long run a cheaper and lighter process. Also since steel is resistant to fire, they do not engage in burning in case of a fire. Such homes are also highly sturdy and tough, as well being termite-proof. Steel also helps in expansion and therefore leading to more released spaces making the home look bigger. Kit Homes are less mobile in nature along with being nature friendly. Kit based Homes offer larger flexibility in designs, and since steel is malleable in nature, it can withstand all forces of nature at their worst.

The typical inclusions of Kit based homes consist of a choice between high trainer engineers and builders, construction materials of all required sorts, an integrated plan of the project and other such specifications and moldings details.Transporation facilities, electrical work, plumbing items, kitchen objects, builder council permission, dumping of trash are factors not included in the kit. In case of steel home kits, the owner can adhere to owner building courses and thereby get involved in a step-by-step procedure to assist more manually to the building of his kit home.

A gate is used as an entry or exit into a plot. It may also be used to secure the home compound. This are made of different materials. They could be made with timber, steel sections or metal sheets. The home owner desires a beautiful entry into the compound. the gate may have a sentry cubicle on the side to control movement into and out of the compound. The height can vary depending on the location. If its fixed on a long driveway it can be opened by remote control.

The gate should is fixed such that the home owner can open and close effortlessly. It is important to have the posts hanging the gate very strong. The hanging post can be made of steel or concrete stanchions. This should not buckle under the weight. The hinge system should be able to open and close smoothly. On the hanging stanchion, a bell or security system can be installed. Also lighting should be provided for ensuring a lit entry or exit into the home. Also a gate sensor can be added.

Once the gate is fabricated then fixing commences. The width of the gate is measured and the support post position is established. Column pits are excavated to a depth of three feet. The stanchions are plumbed and kept straight upwards. These should also be in line. The stanchion column is then put into the excavated holes. Concrete of one part cement, two parts sand and four parts ballast is mixed and poured into the pit. It is then vibrated properly. Power points are placed on the side and top for lighting and the bell.

The gate stanchion concrete should dry for at least four days. The gate is then lifted and put into position on the hinges. If the columns are done correctly it will fit on the provide hinges. The top of the hinge is then capped by welding to prevent lifting of the gate. The tower bolt position is marked at the center of the gate. Two steel round hollow sections of one feet long are driven into the ground. A concrete surround is done to prevent movement when locking the gate.