Hello!
I signed up here because I think I have a big problem. I moved into a house a month ago. The previous owner had started building a bathroom from scratch on the second floor but didn't complete it. I'm working on it now, and that's when I discovered the problem.
I opened up the floor in the intended bathroom to lay pipes and such. Since it was insulated with sawdust (old house) between the floors, I thought I would shovel it out and install proper insulation at the same time. When I removed the sawdust, I saw that a load-bearing beam running from an exterior wall to a small stone shelf on the chimney was neatly cut about a meter from the chimney. It was apparently in the way of a brick wall he had built in the kitchen below, it seems.
Now that I have been balancing on the beams, the ceiling in the kitchen has developed a worrying sag, and the overhead cabinets in the kitchen appear to have dropped a couple of centimeters.
What do I do immediately to prevent it from worsening?
And what do I do then? It's going to be a lot of extra work. Does the home insurance cover something like this? An inspection was done. Do I have any claims there?
I don't want to reverse the sale. But as a single parent, I neither have the time to fix all this myself, nor do I have the money to hire people for such a huge project.
I signed up here because I think I have a big problem. I moved into a house a month ago. The previous owner had started building a bathroom from scratch on the second floor but didn't complete it. I'm working on it now, and that's when I discovered the problem.
I opened up the floor in the intended bathroom to lay pipes and such. Since it was insulated with sawdust (old house) between the floors, I thought I would shovel it out and install proper insulation at the same time. When I removed the sawdust, I saw that a load-bearing beam running from an exterior wall to a small stone shelf on the chimney was neatly cut about a meter from the chimney. It was apparently in the way of a brick wall he had built in the kitchen below, it seems.
Now that I have been balancing on the beams, the ceiling in the kitchen has developed a worrying sag, and the overhead cabinets in the kitchen appear to have dropped a couple of centimeters.
What do I do immediately to prevent it from worsening?
And what do I do then? It's going to be a lot of extra work. Does the home insurance cover something like this? An inspection was done. Do I have any claims there?
I don't want to reverse the sale. But as a single parent, I neither have the time to fix all this myself, nor do I have the money to hire people for such a huge project.
prop up the ceiling below and then brace the beam against other beams? has he bricked the wall up into the joists? sounds strange...
but the kitchen wall cabinets are usually screwed into the wall, are they attached to the ceiling?
you should probably take a picture, there surely is a solution.
but the kitchen wall cabinets are usually screwed into the wall, are they attached to the ceiling?
you should probably take a picture, there surely is a solution.
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The beam that is of runs from the short side of the house to the chimney. Then beams have been spliced that run from long side to long side over this one. So it should act as support underneath if you understand?
The brick wall stands sort of free without any function at all other than aesthetic. But it is built up to the ceiling wherein they just cut the beam.
The kitchen cabinets are from Ikea so they probably just hang in the thin backing of Masonite? I assume that's what's starting to give in when the ceiling presses from above. Because the wall they're hanging on seems okay.
I'll see if I can find my camera. It's probably still in a moving box somewhere.
But this must have collapsed before I started walking on it. Because he built a wall for the bathroom and there he supported it with boards in the middle, under the bottom plate so it doesn't hang in the air.
The brick wall stands sort of free without any function at all other than aesthetic. But it is built up to the ceiling wherein they just cut the beam.
The kitchen cabinets are from Ikea so they probably just hang in the thin backing of Masonite? I assume that's what's starting to give in when the ceiling presses from above. Because the wall they're hanging on seems okay.
I'll see if I can find my camera. It's probably still in a moving box somewhere.
But this must have collapsed before I started walking on it. Because he built a wall for the bathroom and there he supported it with boards in the middle, under the bottom plate so it doesn't hang in the air.
It certainly sounds like a defect that should qualify as a hidden defect. If you search for hidden defect here on the forum, especially in the legal section, you will find that the evidential requirements are very high. But simply put, it must be a defect that was not possible to discover during a thorough inspection of the property, and it must be a defect that you would not expect due to, for example, the house's age or general condition.
If at the time of purchase there were any signs that something might not be OK with this construction, the buyer is obliged to conduct a more in-depth investigation. A more in-depth investigation could involve, for example, using a camera through drilled holes, or X-raying the flooring.
In this case, I could imagine that there might have been signs that the floor was settling, e.g., a gap under a baseboard, then there is a risk that a court may not consider the defect hidden.
If at the time of purchase there were any signs that something might not be OK with this construction, the buyer is obliged to conduct a more in-depth investigation. A more in-depth investigation could involve, for example, using a camera through drilled holes, or X-raying the flooring.
In this case, I could imagine that there might have been signs that the floor was settling, e.g., a gap under a baseboard, then there is a risk that a court may not consider the defect hidden.
The inspector didn't say anything. But I probably need to check what was included in my inspection before I criticize him. Because I probably didn't choose the most thorough inspection...
The only signs one could have noticed before are that the kitchen ceiling sags a bit in the middle. The sealing strips between an upper cabinet and the brick wall are strangely torn. Also, a molding that runs from floor to ceiling to cover the gap around the fridge is bent like a bow inwards.
Can you bring someone here to assess whether it's a hidden defect or not, without the previous owner finding out? Don't want to start the carousel if it doesn't lead to anything.
The only signs one could have noticed before are that the kitchen ceiling sags a bit in the middle. The sealing strips between an upper cabinet and the brick wall are strangely torn. Also, a molding that runs from floor to ceiling to cover the gap around the fridge is bent like a bow inwards.
Can you bring someone here to assess whether it's a hidden defect or not, without the previous owner finding out? Don't want to start the carousel if it doesn't lead to anything.
Now I understand, if it's possible to put a post under the cut beam, that would be the simplest solution, but maybe it ends up awkwardly placed then, alternatively, prop up the joist and replace the cut beam with one that reaches the chimney.Osis said:The beam that is cut goes from the short side of the house to the chimney. Then beams are spliced that go from long side to long side over this. So it should lie as support underneath, if you get it?
The brick wall stands freely without any function other than aesthetic. But it's built into the ceiling where they just cut the beam.
The kitchen cabinets are from IKEA so they probably just hang on the thin back panel in masonite? I assume it's that which is starting to give way when the ceiling presses from above. Because the wall they hang on seems okay.
I'll see if I can find my camera. It’s probably still in a moving box somewhere.
But this must have fallen apart before I started walking on it. Because he built a wall to the bathroom and there he supported it with boards in the middle, under the bottom rail so it doesn't hang in the air.
Yes, I was considering removing the top layer of bricks and replacing the beam. Then it should clear the brick wall to the chimney if I raise it to the correct level. The problem is that I can't raise the joists since he's built a wall on top of the crooked floor. So that has to be demolished. Of course, the room on the other side is newly renovated.
Then to replace the beam, I'll have to tear up the new floor in the same room and take down the ceiling in the newly renovated kitchen. It's so exhausting!
A post underneath is probably not a viable option. I think it would end up right in front of the refrigerator. :/
Then to replace the beam, I'll have to tear up the new floor in the same room and take down the ceiling in the newly renovated kitchen. It's so exhausting!
A post underneath is probably not a viable option. I think it would end up right in front of the refrigerator. :/
Nope, misunderstood.Osis said:
The angle brackets, which are screwed to the wall, are in turn screwed into the side panels, with two screws in each. The back panel is not part of the junction at all.
But, to return to the matter at hand:
If the structural beam of the intermediate floor is cut to make room for the built "aesthetic" kitchen wall, shouldn't the remaining short floor beams be able to be anchored, "hung up," in the new brick wall?
How is the brick wall set up? Is there anything under it that can handle the loads from the upper floor?
PS
Ekofiber, horse meat, Saab
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