The Danger of 'Open Concept'
The current trend of joining kitchen and living room implies knocking down partitions. The problem arises when no distinction is made between a simple dividing partition and a load-bearing wall. Removing a structural support without adequate reinforcement can cause cracks in the floor of the upper neighbor or, in the worst case, a partial collapse.
Common Pathologies in Old Buildings
When rehabilitating old buildings in Barcelona (Eixample, Ciutat Vella), we often find surprises:
- Wood beams with woodworm: They have lost section and resistance.
- Ceramic joists with aluminosis: They have lost load-bearing capacity.
- Deformed walls: Walls that have buckled over the years.
The Technical Solution: Shoring and Reinforcements
Any intervention in the structure requires:
- Load Calculation: An engineer must calculate how much weight the removed wall supported.
- Reinforcement Project: Design the beam (usually HEB or IPE steel profiles) that will replace the wall.
- Shoring (Propping): Temporarily support the structure while the work is executed. This is the most critical phase.
Conclusion
Never knock down a wall 'to see what happens'. A prior structural study is much cheaper than repairing the damage caused by reckless demolition.