Opening a load-bearing wall is a technical operation that requires the expertise of a specialist company.
Sometimes even a simple doorway can require a fairly robust strengthening structure. One of our clients, who owns two apartments in Antibes, wanted to create an opening in the party wall between them to join the two apartments into one. The wall in question was on the 1st floor and carried 5 floors above the future opening.
Given the scale of the operation, it was obvious that a structural engineer was needed to study the project. Their analysis defined the right method for creating a doorway. Here, after studying the project, the BET found that a wider opening was not possible because the load on the wall remained very high; the only solution was to create a passage the size of a door. This suited the client and the work began.
As usual, we started the job by preparing the work area. Protective sheeting and hardboard panels were put in place to protect the floor and walls from debris. Since clearing a load-bearing wall can destabilise the upper level of the structure, it had to be supported. So, before taking down the load-bearing wall, we took care to install propping and fix timber battens to carry the weight of the floors above.
The method recommended by the engineers was not standard. This time the future opening first had to be reinforced with HEA100, UPE270 and HEB 400 sections fixed to the wall's drop in a twin-beam clamping (moisage) system. Once the beams were in place, we added the vertical reinforcements, consisting of UPE280 columns. To spread the column loads, the engineers specified steel base plates – UPN180.
Once the future opening had been strengthened beforehand, we could start cutting the opening with a diamond circular saw to reduce vibrations and the appearance of cracks. All the steel elements were assembled by welding and bolting.
At the end of the job we coated the structure with anti-rust paint to protect it from corrosion. The whole site was carefully cleaned to leave the premises in their original condition. The opening created a private passage between the two apartments, joining them together.
