Installing an RSJ in a timber framed house.

[Thejonboy]

Hi, I am planning to remove my utility room in my timber framed house. All internal walls are timber. Its currently is in the corner of the house between the kitchen and dining room, by removing it I will have a large L-shaped room.
One of the walls is load bearing, my structural engineer has said I can install an RSJ in the kitchen area about 4ft away from the wall to be removed and place steel plates along the floor joists above.
The SE has said I can mount/fix the RSJ on 4 x 6x2 uprights that will be fixed to the walls, is this right?

I have spoken to several local builders and all have said they have never known of a steel beam being supported on timber struts???

Your thoughts/advice please.
Jon

[royaloakcarpentry]

It has to go through the local council, anyway. So whack it in with the timbers and see what they come back with.

I can't personally see a problem, as it is a timber framed house. Although whether the council has a problem and wants brick is something they will tell you.

[steviejoiner74]

Nearly all houses where I work are timber frame and it is commonplace sitting steels on timber studs. However the 6x2 studs that would be carrying the steel would need to be attached to the existing timber walls correctly. You would need to remove the plasterboard to reveal the structural timbers and insert new studs to fix the new timbers to. Secondly the 6x2 timbers(cripple studs) need to be sitting on a load bearing wall below usually with a double or triple joist directly below this to pick up the load from above. The joists above will also have to be running at 90 degrees to the steel. I am assuming the 6x2 studs are to be attached to the external walls? When I am sitting steel on timber I usually have 3 studs fixed together. A photo of your proposed work we help

[Thejonboy]

Hi, thanks for your replies. One end of the steel is being mounted to the end of another load bearing wall with the cripple studs being attached to that. (after removing plaster and architrave etc) The other end is on a wall that separates the kitchen and garage, it was suggested to remove the plaster and screw the cripple studs to the wall.
The three local builders have said I needn't both contacting the council

[royaloakcarpentry]

Depends where you are.

I would argue that in England, taking out a load bearing wall would come under building regs.

[steviejoiner74]

You are altering structure,you'll defo need to contact the local council imo