Where beams go into party walls
- Knock-throughs: opening up two rooms, or the back of the house, usually needs a beam with one end on the party wall.
- Loft conversions: new floor and roof beams often bear on the party wall.
- Chimney breast removal: what remains of the breast above may be carried on a steel beam or brackets.
What the work involves
The builder cuts a pocket in the party wall, usually going no more than halfway into it, and beds a padstone at the bottom to spread the load. The beam end sits on the padstone and the gap above is packed tight. Done carefully, nobody next door notices more than the noise. Done badly, it can crack plaster or disturb the neighbour's side of the wall.
What surveyors look for
- The engineer's calculations and details for the bearing
- How deep the pocket goes, and whether it could break through
- Temporary support while the wall is open
- Making good on the neighbour's side if anything is disturbed
Building regulations too
Structural steelwork needs building regulations approval. The engineer's design is normally what the surveyors review.
Common questions
Can a beam go right through the party wall?
It should not normally reach the neighbour's side. If a design needs a deeper bearing, it has to be agreed through the surveyors.
My builder says a beam on our own posts avoids the need for notice. Is that right?
If nothing bears on or cuts into the party wall, the Act may not apply. Check the engineer's drawings carefully.
Where this comes from in the Act
Links go to the official text of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 on legislation.gov.uk.