01 — Kitchen diners · Open-plan layouts · Wall removal
Kitchen knock-throughs and open-plan kitchen building work in Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch
We take out the wall between your kitchen and dining room so they become one room. We check the wall, arrange the steel beam and the Building Regulations approval, and repair the walls, ceiling and floor afterwards.
- ★ 5.0 on Google (15 reviews)
- Checkatrade 10/10 (20 reviews)
- We reply the same working day.
02 — Kitchen knock-throughs
What a kitchen knock-through involves
The wall between a kitchen and dining room often holds up part of the house. If it does, it needs a steel beam in its place. A structural engineer works out the beam size, Building Control checks the work, and the walls, ceiling and floor are repaired afterwards.
We do kitchen knock-throughs in Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch, including Parkstone, Branksome, Southbourne, Winton, Highcliffe and Broadstone.
What this covers
- A visit to check the wall and what it holds up.
- Drawings of the new kitchen and dining room layout.
- Structural calculations from an engineer for the steel beam.
- Building Regulations approval.
- Taking out the wall, fitting the beam, and repairing the walls, ceiling and floor.
How we do the work
- 1
Stage 1
Plan the opening
We agree with you how much of the wall to take out. A smaller opening can cost less.
- 2
Stage 2
Size the beam
A structural engineer works out the size of the steel beam. We apply for Building Regulations approval.
- 3
Stage 3
Do the work
We seal off the room to keep dust out of the rest of the house, take out the wall, fit the beam and repair the walls, ceiling and floor.
Why homeowners choose us
The people who draw your project are the people who build it. So the drawings are made to be built, not just to get approval, and we price each item on them before you commit.
Free
Free project review
Tell us what you want to do. We call you back the same working day to tell you what your project needs and whether it is worth doing. There is no cost and no obligation.
The price is agreed from the drawings
The build price only changes if you change the design.
One firm and one contract
You don't have to find and manage separate designers, engineers and builders.
You can stop after any step
The drawings are yours to use with any builder.
Can I do this to my house?
Answer three or four quick questions to see what your project is likely to need before you speak to anyone.
What your project is likely to need
Your answer appears here as soon as you have answered the questions.
How a building project works
Every extension, knock-through or loft conversion has four stages. We do all four.
- 01
Drawings
We measure your house and draw it as it is now. Then we draw the new layout.
- 02
Approvals
We apply for planning permission if you need it, and prepare the Building Regulations drawings. Building Control is an independent inspector. They check the work and sign it off.
- 03
Engineering
A structural engineer works out the size of any steel beams and foundations before building starts.
- 04
Building work
We do the building work and finish the rooms.
For a kitchen knock-through, the engineering and the Building Regulations approval are done at the same time.
What can go wrong, and how we stop it
What goes wrong
How we stop it
The price goes up once building starts.
We price the building work from our own finished drawings, so the price is agreed before work starts.
The steel beam is the wrong size, or rests on the wrong thing.
A structural engineer sizes the beam and what it rests on before building starts. Building Control checks it on site.
Old chimney breasts, pipes or cables turn up once the wall comes out.
We look at what the wall holds up and what runs through it before the drawings are finished.
A neighbour dispute holds the job up.
We tell you early if the Party Wall Act applies, so notices go out before the work is planned.
You find out too late that you needed planning permission.
We tell you at the free review whether you need planning permission, and we make the application if you do.
Kitchen Knock-Throughs in Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch: photos from our jobs
How it works
There are five steps. You can stop after any of them.
You can stop after any step. The drawings are yours, and you can use them with another builder.
We build in Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and about 20 miles around them. For homes further away, our remote layout service works anywhere in the UK, and we can price the work, prepare tender documents and vet local builders.
Step 1
Free project review
Send us a few details or call. We look at what you want to do and tell you what it will need and whether it is worth taking further.
Free
Step 2
Layout Ideas Pack
We draw your home as it is now and up to three ways it could work, then fine-tune your favourite with you on a video call. Done remotely from your Rightmove link, floor plan or sketch, or in person with a measured site survey and a 3D point cloud scan.
Remote or in person
Step 3
Cost estimate
Once you have a layout you like, we estimate what it would cost to build.
Price agreed before you commit
Step 4
Drawings, approvals and engineering
Full drawings, structural calculations, and the planning and Building Regulations applications. The house is measured at this stage if it hasn't been already.
Priced after the estimate
Step 5
The build
Near Poole, we price the building work from the finished drawings, then do the work and finish the rooms. Further away, we price it, prepare the tender documents and vet local builders.
Price agreed from the drawings
What our customers say
- ★ 5.0 on Google (15 reviews)
- Checkatrade 10/10 (20 reviews)
- We reply the same working day.
“…they can do everything from start to finish for you.”
“…carried out layout drawings for a very reasonable amount. Josh also gave us a budget price to carry out the works.”
“I couldn't recommend Josh enough! He has been absolutely fantastic, nothing was too much trouble, he was happy to bounce lots of ideas back and forth until we were happy. He is polite, friendly and professional in every aspect. I would definitely be using his services again in the future when needed.”
“Josh got the plans for our extension completed and submitted very quickly. We had a number of amendments and obstacles to overcome but nothing was too much trouble for him. A very professional and efficient service.”
Is PlanBuild right for your project?
We are a good fit if
- You want an extension, a knock-through, a wall removed or a loft conversion.
- Your home is in or near Poole, Bournemouth or Christchurch.
- You want one firm to do the drawings, the approvals, the engineering and the building work.
- You want to see your options and a rough cost before you pay for full drawings.
We are not the right choice if
- Your home is more than about 20 miles from Poole, Bournemouth or Christchurch. Start with our remote layout service instead: it works anywhere in the UK.
How we help
You want more space or a better layout, but you don't know where to start, what it will cost, or who to trust with it.
We tell you what your project needs
At the free review we tell you whether you need planning permission, Building Regulations approval or a structural engineer, and what that involves.
You see your options before you commit
The Layout Ideas Pack gives you up to three layout options for your house, and the cost estimate tells you what your favourite would cost to build.
You know the cost before work starts
We price the build from our own drawings, so you are not relying on a builder's guess.
You deal with one firm
We do the drawings, the approvals, the engineering and the building work. You don't have to find, manage and chase separate firms.
Often done with this job: Structural wall removal, RSJ installation in Poole, Single-storey extensions
Questions about Kitchen Knock-Throughs in Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch
Do I need a structural engineer for a kitchen knock-through in Poole, Bournemouth or Christchurch?
Yes, if the wall is load-bearing or you are not sure. The engineer works out the size of the steel beam. Building Control needs these calculations to approve the work.
How much does an RSJ cost for a kitchen-diner opening?
The steel itself is only one part of the cost. Most kitchen knock-through projects with survey, calculations, Building Control, RSJ installation and making good start from around £9,000–£14,000 depending on span, access and finish.
Does removing a kitchen wall need Building Regulations approval?
Yes, if the wall is load-bearing. Without approval you have no record that the work was checked, which can cause problems when you sell the house. We apply for it before work starts.
Can I knock through my kitchen and dining room?
Usually, yes. It depends on what the wall holds up and how wide you want the opening.
Will I need to move the kitchen?
Not always. Some jobs are just taking out the wall and repairing the room. Others also need new electrics, plumbing, flooring or kitchen units.
Tell us what you want to change
Send a few details and we will call you back the same working day to tell you what your project needs. There is no cost and no obligation.
We build in Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and about 20 miles around them.
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