STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS
Where the architecture of a home gets reimagined from the inside out.
Load-bearing walls, loft conversions, basement digs, structural openings. The work that quietly transforms how a house lives.
A wall comes down and three rooms become one. A loft becomes the principal suite. A basement becomes the part of the home you actually want to spend time in.
Structural alterations are often the single highest-value change a homeowner can make to a property, and they demand the most experienced hands.
We work closely with structural engineers, building control, and any conservation officers involved, so compliance is never the afterthought.
The finished result feels effortless, because everything underneath it isn't.
What's included?
-
Load-bearing wall removal
-
Loft and basement conversions
-
Steel beam installation
-
Structural engineer coordination
-
Building regulations compliance
-
Underpinning and foundation work
COMMON QUESTIONS
Structural alteration questions, answered.
Do I need planning permission to remove a load-bearing wall?
Usually not, because internal work on a house generally falls outside planning. Listed buildings are the exception, where listed building consent is needed. What you always need is building regulations approval and a structural engineer's design for the beam and supports. We arrange both.
Does a loft conversion need planning permission?
Many do not. Under permitted development a loft can usually be extended by up to 40 cubic metres on a terraced house and 50 on a semi or detached house, as long as nothing is added to the front roof slope. Front dormers, conservation areas and listed buildings usually need an application. Building regulations apply to every loft conversion.
Will I need a party wall agreement?
Often. Setting steels into a shared wall, underpinning and basement excavation near a neighbour's foundations all fall under the Party Wall Act, and notice has to be served before the work starts. We handle the notices and the surveyor process.
Do I need a structural engineer?
Yes, for any work that takes load out of the building. The engineer calculates the steel, the padstones and whether the foundations can take the new loads, and building control will want to see those calculations.
We coordinate the engineer as part of the project so the design and the build stay in step.
What does a basement conversion involve?
Excavation, underpinning the existing walls, waterproofing, ventilation and getting light into the space, plus a party wall agreement if you share a wall with a neighbour. Converting an existing cellar is simpler than digging a new basement, which usually needs planning permission. We assess which applies at the first visit.
How disruptive is structural work?
The structural part itself is often quicker than people expect. Temporary supports go in, the wall comes out and the steel goes up. The dust, the making good and the finishing take longer. We plan the sequence around how you are using the house and protect the rooms that are not being worked on.
