Load Bearing Wall Removal
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.
- Load bearing wall removal designed by structural engineers, not guesswork.
- Fixed fee RSJ design and steel beam calculations for typical wall removals.
- Building Control ready calculations and drawings that pass inspection.
Typical projects include kitchen knock throughs, residential wall removals, chimney breast removals and openings for extensions.
What is a load bearing wall?
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.
Common signs a wall might be load bearing:
- Wall sits directly under joists or beams from above.
- Brick or blockwork wall that lines up with walls upstairs.
- Wall supports a chimney breast or heavy masonry above.
If you are unsure, treat the wall as load bearing and speak to a structural engineer before any cutting starts.
Typical load bearing wall removal projects
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Kitchen and dining room wall removals
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. -
Openings into garden and extensions
Structural wall removals for bi fold doors, rear extensions and new glazed screens. We set beam sizes so deflection limits keep doors working smoothly. -
Chimney breast and part wall removals
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. -
Walls removed as part of loft conversions
Internal wall removals when converting lofts or reworking first floor layouts. We check how new beams for the loft tie into existing walls below. -
Checks on past wall removal work
Sometimes a previous owner has removed a wall without records. We can inspect, check the steel beam size where visible and provide a report. -
Support for builders and wall removal companies
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.
Design checks we perform
Every calculation pack includes critical checks to ensure safety and compliance. For a typical wall removal, we verify:
- Beam section: e.g., 203 x 133 x 30 UB (Universal Beam)
- Utilisation ratio: Ensuring the beam is working within its capacity (e.g., 0.82 EC3)
- Deflection check: Limiting bend to prevent cracks (e.g., < L/360 OK)
- Building Control: Calculations ready for submission in 24 to 72 hours
Feedback on our load bearing wall removal 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.”
Homeowner, Manchester area
“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.”
Wall removal contractor
“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.”
Buyer, Surrey area
Watch: removing a load bearing wall
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:
- How to confirm if the wall is load bearing.
- What information is needed to size the steel beam.
- How deflection and bearing are checked for Building Control.
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.
Areas we cover for residential wall removals
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.
Load bearing wall removal FAQs
Ready to open up your space?
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.
- Head Office: Corwell Lane, Uxbridge, England, UB8 3DE.
- 07359 267907
- info@structuralengineercalcs.com
- Company No: 12653163