Hello
I need help interpreting a reinforcement drawing and if anyone can say whether it is possible to extend the existing stair opening without installing a load-bearing pillar. The stair opening is currently 277cm long and we want to extend it to 300cm to avoid hitting our heads when going up the stairs.
I have also contacted an engineer, but as far as I interpret the drawing, by adding new lower reinforcement, it should be possible to extend an additional 25cm.
Hoping for some wise opinions from the forum.
I need help interpreting a reinforcement drawing and if anyone can say whether it is possible to extend the existing stair opening without installing a load-bearing pillar. The stair opening is currently 277cm long and we want to extend it to 300cm to avoid hitting our heads when going up the stairs.
I have also contacted an engineer, but as far as I interpret the drawing, by adding new lower reinforcement, it should be possible to extend an additional 25cm.
Hoping for some wise opinions from the forum.
hope someone here can at least advise me.As it stands, you will cut the only reinforcements that exist on the underside of the slab at the edge of the stairwell. This reinforcement acts as the slab's support at the hole edge. One way could be to reinforce the underside of the slab with carbon fiber. I should add that I do not see the entire drawing. If the slab is continuous over all walls and there is top reinforcement over all of them, you might get lucky that your current area doesn't need reinforcement on the underside. But I strongly recommend that a structural engineer looks into this, as that would relieve you of the responsibility.