Changing/Leveling up wall between bedrooms made from false alcoves with fitted wardrobes
Anonymous user 09/03/2024 - 3.26 PM
Hi, we are buying a house with kind of false alcoves wall between 2 bedrooms
Currently the whole wall is a 2 fitted wardrobes in one bedroom right and left side of the wall and 1 middle/ centre one in second bedroom.
There is no chimney breast involved at all - simply just weird alcoves in both rooms.
We would like to level up the wall and create full straight flat wall in a bedroom where middle fitted wardrobe is, and in 2nd bedroon - remove 2 fitted wardrobes and wall in the middle (so kind of this shape - I_I ) to make that bedroom bigger
Could ypu please advise would we need a builing reg? Do you maybe know the reason why the wall has been orginally created this way? Maybe it must stay like that? But as we don't remove the wall just move it do we need to care about anything special?
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
Hi is the wall a stud wall or a brick wall. I'm not a builder but if its timber frame they are normally put in as a feature wall. Some walls are block or brick but not load bearing it is a fire wall only. Try locating the wall in the loft and see if it's holding anything up. Never remove anything unless you 110 % sure. I used to work for a log burning company and we put these in to a property to hous6an electric fire to give the effect of a chimney also have removed them
But don't do anything hasty. Hope this helps. Might be worth speaking to a builder for advice .
Answered30 December 2021
7
Anonymous user
Hello, if these have been put in previously they will certainly be a stud wall ( timber and plasterboard ) which would be non load bearing. To establish this try making a couple of small holes in the wall or top of the ceiling with a hammer to determine this or if you have access to the loft even better to look to see if its brick and part of the original house or not before safely removing. In these instances you should get advise from a professional builder. We are in Hampshire if you need a hand Good luck
Hi. It is extremely unlikely that you need a building regulations inspection for this unless it is a listed building on the inside. Wardrobes and false alcoves are unlikely to be loadbearing if they are not brick. (As the above contributer has also said) However, you never know what “logical” structures previous owners have done or had done by someone. For example it may hold up some old lathe and plaster which is sagging and when unsupported can cause a real mess! Sometimes structures “settle” on timber structures and become supportive unintentionally. I’d get two local builders round to look and quote. Most builders can suss out this kind of thing easily without getting a structural engineer to verify. If they can’t they’ll suggest an engineer check it. All things considered you can probably restore a nice flat straight wall.
Answered9 January 2022
1
Anonymous user
You need a structural assessment to ensure there are no issues when removing alcoves.
