Shouldn't be too much hassle - I know of a good builder in your area so I'll get his details and drop you a line.

If there is a brick wall above then the one below is supporting its weight so you will need a bit of steel in there, you may well end up with a bulkhead at ceiling level to hide the steel unless you can build it into the depth of the floor and get the first floor joists to bear into the web somehow.

RSJ's are not that expensive, £100 should be enough.

The building regs thing only becomes an issue if a potential buyer spots the work and asks to see the approvals.

Bulkhead for the RSJ won't be a problem to be honest. I was more wondering if it something to be undertaken yourself or get somebody in to do it. My old man did my nans one many years ago and that, AFAIK, is still standing :lol:

He's a fairly competent builder and my neighbour works for Tamdown builders so I'm sure he can lend a hand if need be. Actually, the more I think about it the more I realise that it shouldn't be a problem as I know quite a few handymen (all biking mates before anyone slips in with the dodgy comments ;) )

God. This all sounds incredibly dodgy. And very dusty - just before Christmas. What does Mrs Desmondo think of this plan? Do you have any idea how long it takes to get brick dust out of your nooks and crannies?
Leave it alone or get professionals in - or it will end in tears. :o:o:(

Ruth, there is no Mrs Desmondo to worry about so there's no need to keep her nook and crannies clean ;)
And why leave it to the pro's? Where's your sense your sense of adventure :lol:
I'm now leaning heavily towards the seldgehammer approach.

Await my "Oh my god, my house has just fallen down" thread.

Get lots of beer, some pizza and a few mates around and make a night of it!

TP
Specialist Handyman Advice

This sounds too good to miss ... I'll be standing *outside* with the video camera waiting for the collapse of Chez Desmondo :D

Take some 'before and after' pictures, to include in your new thread, won't you. Be interesting to see you turn two perfectly functional rooms into one big pile of rubble. :devil::D:D

Interesting or just plain damn funny Ruth? :bouncy:
Anthony, I'll give you plenty or warning for when it's going on so you can set up the cameras.
In fact, we can plan the whole event whilst talking drunken gibberish next friday at the London meet :D

I did a similar thing a couple of years back, although it was on the first floor so the crew had plenty of room to work from the attic.

From memory it was about £4k but that included some other decorating work. I've no idea whether that was reasonable or not but the other quotes were coming in twice as high.

If you're not fussed about the overhang, what about just putting in an "opening" in the wall about half the width of the room? You would still be able to move the slut between rooms and it would almost be a diy job.

Whatever you do, please do not be tempted to lift up the floorboards and hide the rubble under there (as the previous owner of my house did). Your subfloor will rot in about 5 years time and you can kiss another £5k goodbye.

Oh dear, I appear to have come over all sensible.....

Chi