Taking out a wall that is carrying load means replacing what it carried before it goes. That is a survey, a structural engineer's calculation, temporary support, a beam and bearings, then making good and the inspections. We appoint the engineer and build to the calculations issued. We never produce them ourselves. This page covers what the Maidenhead housing stock does to that job.
Maidenhead's Victorian and Edwardian stock is not one single build type
The Maidenhead design code describes the Town periphery character area as Victorian and Edwardian suburbs with linear street patterns and terraced and semi detached two storey dwellings. It records them as built in local warm orange red brick with decorative plaster moulding, colour washed render and hung sash windows. A two storey semi and a two storey terrace do not carry load in the same way, and the survey starts there.
The same code describes the Boyn Hill to Rutland Road suburb as short terraces with short front gardens, built of orange red brick under slate roofs. It records Boyn Valley Road as yellow London stock brick with decorative stucco to door and window casings. Two streets close together can be different builds, so we open up and check rather than read across from the house next door.
In the town centre, one terrace was not built like the terrace opposite
The council's Maidenhead Town Centre conservation area appraisal records that the Queen Street terrace at numbers 7 to 21 is built of yellow stock brick, while the terrace opposite at numbers 14 to 40 is red brick with slate roofs. It records that variation in detailing suggests the work was built in stages, or by different builders. Facing brick alone does not tell you what is behind it.
The same appraisal records red and yellow stock brick in the High Street, steeply pitched roofs covered with red clay tiles, and later buildings with slate covered roofs. Roof covering matters to a wall removal, because it is part of the load coming down onto the beam. The engineer we appoint sizes the steel from what is actually there, not from the age of the street.
A completion certificate depends on the council being called in to inspect
The council states that if it is not called to carry out the relevant inspections it will not be able to issue a completion certificate. It also states that a Notice of Completion form must be completed by all parties and returned before a completion certificate can be issued. A removed wall with no certificate is a problem you meet again at sale.
We make the application, book the inspections around the programme, and return the completion paperwork. Temporary support goes in before anything is cut and stays until the beam is in and bearing as the engineer specifies. You get the certificate at the end rather than a job that has to be regularised later.
- Nib walls and piers formed where the engineer requires them
- Padstones and correct bearing at each end of the opening
- Assessment of whether a wall is load-bearing
- Joist ends supported where the wall carried the floor above
- Spine wall openings in Victorian and Edwardian terraces
The GS Renovation Difference in Maidenhead
Every wall removal starts with finding out what the wall is actually doing. We survey, appoint the structural engineer, and build to the calculations issued rather than to an assumption drawn from the street. Temporary support goes in first, the beam and bearings follow, and the plastering, flooring and making good are ours as well. We coordinate the building control application and the inspections so the completion certificate arrives with the job rather than years later. GS Renovation Ltd is fully insured, registered in England, company number 14611254, and quotations are free and without obligation.
- Straight advice on what is and is not worth spending money on
- Staged demolition rather than taking a wall through in one go
- Fully insured, with cover in place on every site
- Props and strongboys set out to a temporary works plan
- Rated 4.9 from 31 reviews on MyBuilder
- Free follow-up visit after completion if anything needs attention