We have a sliding glass partition of 6 meters, and the wall is a total of 7.2 meters. The structural engineer recommended glulam beam or metal beam but the builder chose to pour concrete. This has now resulted in the beam sagging and pressing on the middle of the sliding glass partition, which is now very difficult to open. With some strength, you can open it a maximum of 1 meter. Is there any other option than replacing the entire beam?
We are in a dispute with the builder and will likely reach a financial settlement. There is a lot we need to fix with the house, so if we could find a solution that doesn't involve replacing the entire beam and all that it entails, it would be very nice.
A concrete beam that behaves in that way is misdimensioned. I wouldn't trust any information about this beam and therefore find it hard to see that extra columns or similar could be an alternative to removing the beam entirely. I assume that the glass section was installed only after the beam was completed. I think that the action of placing a concrete beam more or less in the facade indicates a lack of construction competence. Can he show the structural calculation and reinforcement drawings?
A concrete beam behaving in that way is incorrectly sized. I would not trust any information about this beam and therefore find it hard to see that additional pillars or similar could be an alternative to removing the beam entirely. I assume the glass section was installed only after the beam was cast. I believe the decision to place a concrete beam more or less in the facade indicates a lack of building competence. Can he show the structural calculations and reinforcement drawings?
There are no structural calculations or reinforcement drawings. We agree on the lack of building competence, as do 3 inspectors.
...and this without there even being snow on the roof.
Exactly. We live as far south as you can get, and in the three years we've lived here, we've hardly had any snow at all. But you can't rely on that, the weather is unpredictable.
It would have been exciting to hear how they reinforced a beam with a span of 6m. It should probably be prestressed instead, which I doubt has been done. Now it has obviously been established that they really messed up, but how they could even think it would work...
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