When we return from our usual summer sailing in Hobart, we organise a meeting with Daniel (architect), Con (structural engineer), Tony and Dave (builders) to work out how best to deal with the bit of wall that we want to remove from the living area. To make it easier to see what's what, we spend a happy day wrecking the cupboard that once held the hot water service in the bathroom. What we find is not promising - no steel beam supporting the existing opening.
When the experts arrive, they confirm that the old opening was created by bolting two slim wooden beams on either side of the old brick wall at the level of the top of the opening, then removing all the brickwork below. Con the engineer confirms that if we re-arrange this at all, it will not pass current regulations. We all stand and ponder for a bit, then Tony suggests that we put a single steel pillar at the end of the current opening, and then insert a new steel beam to support a new opening from there to the outside wall. Con confirms that this is possible, and we feel that a pillar in the middle of the room could be made into a feature, rather than a bug.
We agree that the next step will be to demolish most of the internals at the back, so that Daniel and Con can really see what's under the floor and above the ceiling. The bad news is that Dave and Tony tell us that they are booked until late June, so there will be another pause before anything happens.
