Load Bearing Wall Removal London
Removing a structural wall in a London property needs careful design from the start. Load Bearing Wall Removal London is often required when opening up kitchens, connecting living spaces, or creating room for extensions. Homeowners, builders, and Building Control teams all rely on accurate calculations so the new layout stays safe for the long term.
What this service includes
Complete load bearing wall removal package
You get a full engineering package for the wall you want to remove:
- Review of existing structure and load paths
- Steel beam design sized for spans, loads, and bearings
- Padstone design and bearing checks
- Temporary propping sequence advice for site safety
- Deflection and vibration checks
- Clear structural drawings for builders
- Final calculation pack for Building Control
- Support if Building Control request clarifications
Why load bearing wall removal in London needs structural design
London homes are often older, heavier, and more complex than many other regions. Many are Victorian terraces with solid brick walls, timber floors, and shallow brick bearings that shift loads in unpredictable ways. Others are post-war maisonettes or 1930s semis where cavity walls and undersized joists change how loads transfer. Renovations can expose hidden lintels, chimney supports, or previous alterations that alter the stability of the whole property. Larger openings and multi-room knock-through projects come under full load bearing wall removals where beams, padstones, and bearings must all work together.
Common issues homeowners face
- Cracks forming above doorways
- Floors dropping or feeling springy
- Older beams that have sagged over time
- Chimney breasts relying on the wall being removed
- Weak bearings in soft brick
- Limited space for steel due to pipework
- Unknown structural changes made by previous owners
If the wall supports the floor or roof around an attic room, you may also need loft conversion structural engineer help so the new opening does not weaken the upper level.
How we work (24–48hr process)
Straightforward engineering flow
Technical section
Understanding the load path
A load bearing wall carries weight from floors, roofs, and sometimes neighbouring walls. Once removed, a steel must replace that support. We check:
- Floor joist direction and spacing
- Roof load contribution
- Distribution of point loads
- Bearing capacities of brick or blockwork
Beam design
We size the RSJ by checking bending resistance, shear checks, and deflection limits. When spans or loads are more complex, we carry out a full steel beam calculation so the RSJ is sized correctly. We also review end restraints and lateral support depending on how the builder encloses the beam.
Padstones and bearings
Older London brickwork can be soft or fragile. We calculate padstone or steel plate sizes to spread the load safely, preventing crushing or settlement.
Temporary propping
Safe wall removal depends on proper propping before installation. We highlight where props should go and which areas must remain supported until the new beam is fixed.
Building Control requirements
What Building Control expect
- Full set of structural calculations
- Steel grade, size, and weight
- End restraint details
- Bearing lengths and padstone specifications
- Deflection checks to Approved Document A standards
- Confirmation that loads are properly transferred
You can read more about structural rules in: Approved Document A (gov.uk)
Price guide
Smaller wall removals in London flats usually fall between £375 and £950, depending on the size of the opening and the loads above.
More typical knock-throughs in houses, including RSJ design and support checks, sit in the region of £1,250 to £1,800.
Larger spans or jobs that carry floors and roofs together can reach £2,000 to £2,500, especially where brickwork is weak or chimney loads are involved.
Payment Terms: You pay 50 percent upfront to begin the design and the remaining 50 percent when the full calculation pack and drawings are complete.
Many kitchen knock-throughs link into new side or rear extensions, so we often combine this service with full home extension structural design when the project covers more than one area of the house.
Local London examples
Real projects we complete often
Why choose us
- Clear drawings and straightforward calculations
- Fast 24–48hr turnaround for most projects
- Builder-friendly documents that avoid site confusion
- Strong understanding of London’s older housing stock
- Fixed fees with no hidden extras
- Direct access to a senior engineer
Areas we cover
FAQs
Call 07359 267907 or email info@structuralengineercalcs.com to get your load bearing wall removal design started.
- Head Office: Corwell Lane, Uxbridge, England, UB8 3DE.
- 07359 267907
- info@structuralengineercalcs.com
- Company No: 12653163