GS Renovation removes load-bearing walls throughout Eltham, from the bay-fronted 1930s semis off the high street to the interwar suburban houses set back on their generous SE9 plots. With over 30 years of structural experience across the Royal Borough of Greenwich, we open up ground floors safely, size the steel and leave a level, certified result.
Load-bearing walls in Eltham's 1930s semis
Eltham's interwar semi-detached houses were built with a solid load-bearing spine wall running front to back, usually separating the front reception from the rear living room and carrying the floor joists and the wall above. Homeowners in SE9 nearly always want this spine opened up, but it is holding real weight, so we never touch it until a structural engineer has confirmed exactly what sits on top.
The engineer sizes a steel beam to carry the load once the masonry is gone, and specifies the padstones it bears onto at each end. On these 1930s plots the party wall with the attached neighbour often forms one bearing point, so we design that support carefully. We then prop the floors above, remove the wall in stages, seat the beam and make everything good.
Building control sign-off across SE9
Taking out an internal load-bearing wall is structural work governed by the Building Regulations, not planning permission, so unless your Eltham home is listed or in a conservation area there is no planning application to make. The support does need building control, and the Royal Borough of Greenwich, or an approved inspector, inspects the beam, the padstones and the bearings before signing the job off.
Because these interwar semis share a party wall with the house next door, and one end of your new beam frequently bears into that shared wall, the Party Wall Act applies and notice is served on the neighbour first. We handle the engineer's calculations, the notices and the building control application, then complete the works as one accountable team with no loose ends.
- RSJ and steel beam installation
- Temporary propping and safe demolition
- Padstones and correct bearing at each end
- Knock-throughs between reception rooms
- Making good, plastering and finishing
Why Eltham Homeowners Choose GS Renovation
Eltham homeowners choose GS Renovation because we run the whole job as one accountable team: an engineer sizes the steel, we arrange party wall notices and building control sign-off, and we prop, cut and beam safely in an occupied home. Tidy working, dust kept down and a fully certified opening, backed by 30+ years across SE9 and the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
- Free, no-obligation quotations
- Over 30 years of experience
- Dedicated project management
- Fully insured and guaranteed work
- Building control and planning support
- Clean, tidy and reliable tradespeople