GS Renovation installs RSJs and steel beams across Charlton, working on the bay-fronted Victorian and Edwardian terraces that line the SE7 streets between Greenwich Park and the river. With more than 30 years of structural experience in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, we remove load-bearing walls safely and open up these period homes without cutting corners.
Removing load-bearing walls in Charlton terraces
The dividing wall between the front and rear reception in a Charlton terrace is almost always load-bearing, carrying the floor above and often a chimney stack. Before any demolition we have a structural engineer size the steel, then we set temporary props, cut back in stages and lift the RSJ into place onto concrete or engineering-brick padstones. Every beam we install in SE7 is calculated for the real loads above, never guessed.
Because these houses were built with solid brick walls and shared party walls, careful sequencing matters. We work methodically so the structure above stays supported at all times, protect the rest of the home from dust and debris, and only strike the props once the steel is properly bearing. Building control inspects and signs off the finished installation before we plaster and make good.
Party wall notices on shared Charlton walls
Many Charlton terraces share a party wall with the neighbour, and the chimney breast or dividing wall you want to remove often sits within it. Where our steelwork bears into or affects that shared structure, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies and notice must be served on the adjoining owner. We flag this early so the legal side runs alongside the build rather than holding it up.
We explain in plain terms which notices are needed, coordinate with your party wall surveyor where one is appointed, and keep a record of the condition of adjoining rooms. This is standard practice on the terraced stock across SE7, from streets near Charlton village towards Woolwich, and handling it properly protects both you and your neighbour for the long term.
- Load-bearing wall removal and knock-throughs
- Structural openings for open-plan living
- Structural engineer calculations and beam sizing
- Building control applications and sign-off
- Temporary propping and safe demolition
The GS Renovation Difference in Charlton
Charlton homeowners choose GS Renovation because steel work is our flagship trade, not a sideline. We handle the engineer's calculations, the propping, the party wall notices and the building control sign-off as one accountable job. With 30+ years across the Royal Borough of Greenwich, we open up SE7 terraces safely and leave the finish neat.
- Free, no-obligation quotations
- Over 30 years of hands-on experience
- Dedicated project management
- Fully insured and guaranteed work
- Building control and planning support
- Clean, tidy and reliable tradespeople