GS Renovation removes load-bearing walls across Woolwich, from the bay-fronted Victorian and Edwardian terraces set back from the river to the newer riverside apartments in SE18. With more than 30 years of structural work in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, we take out internal walls safely and leave a properly supported, open room.
Removing walls in Woolwich's terraced homes
The typical SE18 terrace was built as a run of small rooms, with the wall between the front reception and the middle room often carrying the floor joists and the load above. Because that changes how the house stands up, every job starts with a structural engineer who inspects the wall, works out what it supports and sizes a steel beam to replace it.
The beam bears onto padstones set into sound masonry at each end, usually into the flank or the party wall shared with the neighbouring Woolwich terrace. We prop the structure temporarily, take the wall down in safe stages, lift the steel into place and only then remove the props, so the floors above are never left unsupported at any point.
Building control and party walls in SE18
Removing an internal load-bearing wall is covered by the Building Regulations, not planning permission, so the Royal Borough of Greenwich building control department inspects and signs off the beam, its bearings and the fire protection. Only exterior changes in a conservation area or to a listed building would need separate planning consent, which rarely applies to this kind of internal work.
Where the beam bears into the party wall shared with the house next door, or where the works affect that shared wall, the Party Wall Act applies and notice must be served on the neighbour before we start. We prepare and serve those notices, arrange the engineer's calculations and book the building control inspections, so the whole job sits with one accountable team.
- Padstones and correct bearing at each end
- Knock-throughs between reception rooms
- Making good, plastering and finishing
- Building control sign-off and party wall notices
- Assessment of whether a wall is load-bearing
Why Choose GS Renovation in Woolwich
Woolwich homeowners choose GS Renovation because one team handles the load-bearing wall removal end to end: an engineer sizes the steel, we serve any party wall notices on neighbouring terraces, and Greenwich building control signs off the finished work. You get correct propping, tidy working in an occupied home and over 30 years of local structural experience.
- 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