01 — Load-bearing walls · RSJs · Building Control
Structural wall removal and load-bearing wall checks in Poole
We check whether the wall holds up part of the house. If it does, we arrange the structural calculations and Building Regulations approval, then take the wall out and fit a steel beam.
- ★ 5.0 on Google (15 reviews)
- Checkatrade 10/10 (20 reviews)
- We reply the same working day.
02 — Wall removal
What wall removal involves
Taking out a load-bearing wall means putting in a steel beam to hold up the house above. A structural engineer works out the beam size. Building Control checks the work. Then we repair the walls, ceiling and floor.
We take out walls in homes across Poole, including Parkstone, Branksome, Lilliput, Hamworthy and Broadstone. In older houses we also check for old chimney breasts and fireplaces, because they can affect how the wall is supported.
What this covers
- A visit to check the wall, what is above it, and any pipes or cables inside it.
- Advice on how wide the opening needs to be.
- Structural calculations from an engineer, which set the size of the steel beam.
- Building Regulations approval and the Building Control inspections.
- Temporary supports, called props, to hold up the house while the wall comes out.
- Taking out the wall, fitting the beam, moving any pipes or cables, and repairing the walls, ceiling and floor.
How we do the work
- 1
Stage 1
Check the wall
We look at what the wall supports, such as floors, other walls or the roof, and whether pipes or cables run through it.
- 2
Stage 2
Agree the size of the opening
You don't always need to take out the whole wall. A smaller opening can give you the space you want for less money.
- 3
Stage 3
Calculations and approval
A structural engineer works out the size of the steel beam and what it rests on. We apply for Building Regulations approval.
- 4
Stage 4
Take out the wall
We prop up the house, take out the wall and fit the beam. Building Control inspects it. Then we 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 wall removal, the engineer sets the size of the steel beam. Building Control checks the beam before the job is signed off.
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.
Structural Wall Removal in Poole: 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: RSJ installation in Poole, Kitchen knock-throughs, Floor plans and drawings
Questions about Structural Wall Removal in Poole
How can I tell if a wall is load-bearing?
A load-bearing wall holds up part of the house, such as a floor, another wall or the roof. You can't always tell by looking. Send us photos to start with, but the wall needs checking in person before any work starts.
Do I need a structural engineer to remove a wall?
Yes, if the wall is load-bearing or you are not sure. The engineer works out the size of the steel beam and the concrete pads it rests on, called padstones. Building Control needs these calculations to approve the work.
Does wall removal need planning permission?
Taking out an inside wall usually doesn't need planning permission. It does need Building Regulations approval. Listed buildings and houses in conservation areas can have extra rules.
What does Building Control need to see?
The structural calculations, and the beam and its supports before they are covered up with plaster.
What affects the cost of removing a wall?
How wide the opening is, what the wall holds up, the size of the beam, how easy it is to get the beam into the house, pipes or cables in the wall, and how much repair the walls, ceiling and floor need.
Do you do the whole job?
Yes. We do the survey, the drawings, the structural calculations, the Building Regulations application, the building work and the repairs.
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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