Structural Engineer • Load bearing wall removal
We help homeowners remove load bearing walls safely with clear RSJ design and steel beam calculations. Every project is handled by a qualified structural engineer and delivered as a Building Control ready pack that your builder can follow on site.
Typical projects include kitchen knock throughs, residential wall removals, chimney breast removals and openings for extensions.
Clear guidance for homeowners who want to open up rooms but are not sure if the wall is load bearing.
A load bearing wall carries the weight of the structure above it. This can include upper floors, roof timbers, masonry and sometimes attached chimney breasts or beams from other rooms.
If you remove a load bearing wall without proper steel beam design, the loads have nowhere safe to go. Cracks, sagging floors or even partial collapse can follow, often long after the work is finished.
Our structural engineers look at the full load path, not just the wall you want to take out. We check how the loads move from roof to foundations and then set out the right RSJ or steel beam to carry them.
If you are unsure, treat the wall as load bearing and speak to a structural engineer before any cutting starts.
The most common residential wall removal services we handle for UK homeowners, builders and architects.
Open up small rooms into one family space. We design the RSJ beam, padstones and any posts so the new opening is safe and passes Building Control.
Structural wall removals for bi fold doors, rear extensions and new glazed screens. We set beam sizes so deflection limits keep doors working smoothly.
When you remove a chimney breast or nib, the remaining masonry still needs support. We design beams or brackets and check the wall to each side.
Internal wall removals when converting lofts or reworking first floor layouts. We check how new beams for the loft tie into existing walls below.
Sometimes a previous owner has removed a wall without records. We can inspect, check the steel beam size where visible and provide a report.
Many builders and wall removal experts use us as their regular structural engineer. We provide fast RSJ design so they can price and plan jobs with confidence.
We work across much of England and Wales. Many projects can be completed from drawings and photos without a site visit.
Recent load bearing wall removal projects have been in areas such as Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds, London and smaller towns including Guildford, Woking, Bookham, Reigate, Andover, Rotherham, Kensington and Hebburn.
A short tutorial from our YouTube channel showing the key design checks for steel beam sizes in a typical wall removal.
This video, “Removing a load bearing wall | Steel Beam Sizes”, walks through how a structural engineer approaches a simple wall removal. It covers questions like:
You can watch the full tutorial here or open it on YouTube to pause and study each step if you are interested in the engineering behind your project.
Short comments from homeowners and builders who asked us to help with structural wall removal and RSJ design.
We wanted an open plan kitchen and dining room but had no idea if the wall was load bearing. SECalcs sized the RSJ, padstones and posts and the Building Control officer signed it off without any changes.
As a wall removal company we need reliable steel beam calculations. The drawings and notes are clear for our teams and clients. Quotes are easier now because we know the beam sizes early.
We bought a house where a previous owner had already removed a wall. The lender wanted a structural engineer report. SECalcs checked the beam and gave us a written confirmation that satisfied the surveyor.
Common questions from homeowners about structural engineer costs, RSJ design and Building Control approval.
If the wall is load bearing, yes. Building Control will expect steel beam calculations and drawings from a competent person. Even if you are not sure, it is safer to ask a structural engineer to check before any work starts.
We need the property address, a short description of the wall removal, clear photos and basic dimensions. If you have architect plans or estate agent drawings, send those as well. This helps us give a clear fixed fee and avoid surprises later.
Fees depend on the number of beams, spans and how complicated the building is. Simple kitchen knock through projects are usually a fixed fee. Larger jobs that tie in with extensions or loft conversions cost more because there are extra checks to make.
For straightforward residential wall removal we normally return calculations in 24 to 72 hours once we have all the information. Full extension or loft packs can take around five to seven working days depending on workload and complexity.
Many projects can be designed from good quality photos, sketches and basic measurements. If the structure is unusual or there are signs of movement, we may recommend a site visit or ask for extra investigation to keep the design safe.
Our steel beam calculations follow current UK design standards. They are laid out in a format that Building Control officers and surveyors are used to. If anyone has questions, we are happy to answer them directly.
Use this form to outline your wall removal project. Your message goes straight to an engineer.
Share a few details so we can review the layout and confirm the right RSJ design and steel beam calculations for your load bearing wall removal.
This form connects to our central SECalcs email. You will receive a reply from a structural engineer, usually within one working day.
If you are planning a load bearing wall removal in your kitchen, lounge or extension, send us a few details. We will confirm a fixed fee for RSJ design and steel beam calculations and give your builder a clear pack to work from.
