Hi,
New member here, but have been lurking around for a while -- pleased to meet you all. Not entirely sure if this is the correct forum for this post, but wasn't sure where else to put it.
I'm currently building some library style bookcases with cabinets at the bottom. They'll measure 1.7m wide by 2.2m tall, and made mostly from MDF (Hydrofugo). I've calculated the total weight of the materials to be approx 220kg. Books and other items will obviously add a fair bit of extra weight.
I live in a Victorian (~1900) mid-terrace. The bookcases will be located on the first floor landing, where an old hot water cylinder used to be. They'll be positioned up against, and parallel to, the party wall. The 5 floor joists here run perpendicular to the party wall. Upon inspecting the joists I've discovered that instead of being pocketed into the wall (as they are elsewhere in the house), they sit on top of a timber wall plate, which itself sits on top of what I believe are three wrought iron corbels / bars (end of corbel circled in red):
The timbers appear to be fine -- a few water stains from a previous leak but no rot or woodworm (although I've treated all the timber as a precaution). It's difficult to tell the condition of the corbels, or how far they run into the wall.
My question is this: should I be at all concerned about the weight of the bookcases bearing on these three corbels? I presume they're original and so have stood the test of time, but I know wrought iron can eventually fail. The one thing that does reassure me is the fact that there was an old water cylinder here located over just one of the corbels, which probably weighed in at around 170kg, and that doesn't appear to have caused any issues.
I have thought about trying to strengthen / reinforce the wall plate e.g. by inserting threaded studs into the wall, but I fear that could be opening a can of worms and it's probably best leaving it well alone.
Am I overthinking this?
New member here, but have been lurking around for a while -- pleased to meet you all. Not entirely sure if this is the correct forum for this post, but wasn't sure where else to put it.
I'm currently building some library style bookcases with cabinets at the bottom. They'll measure 1.7m wide by 2.2m tall, and made mostly from MDF (Hydrofugo). I've calculated the total weight of the materials to be approx 220kg. Books and other items will obviously add a fair bit of extra weight.
I live in a Victorian (~1900) mid-terrace. The bookcases will be located on the first floor landing, where an old hot water cylinder used to be. They'll be positioned up against, and parallel to, the party wall. The 5 floor joists here run perpendicular to the party wall. Upon inspecting the joists I've discovered that instead of being pocketed into the wall (as they are elsewhere in the house), they sit on top of a timber wall plate, which itself sits on top of what I believe are three wrought iron corbels / bars (end of corbel circled in red):
The timbers appear to be fine -- a few water stains from a previous leak but no rot or woodworm (although I've treated all the timber as a precaution). It's difficult to tell the condition of the corbels, or how far they run into the wall.
My question is this: should I be at all concerned about the weight of the bookcases bearing on these three corbels? I presume they're original and so have stood the test of time, but I know wrought iron can eventually fail. The one thing that does reassure me is the fact that there was an old water cylinder here located over just one of the corbels, which probably weighed in at around 170kg, and that doesn't appear to have caused any issues.
I have thought about trying to strengthen / reinforce the wall plate e.g. by inserting threaded studs into the wall, but I fear that could be opening a can of worms and it's probably best leaving it well alone.
Am I overthinking this?
