GS Renovation has installed steel beams across Forest Hill for over 30 years, from the bay-fronted Victorian terraces near the Horniman Museum to the Edwardian homes climbing the leafy SE23 hills. When a load-bearing wall comes out, our RSJs are sized by a structural engineer, bearing onto padstones, with building control sign-off throughout.
Steel beams for Forest Hill terraces
The typical SE23 project removes the wall between the front and rear reception rooms, or the kitchen and the middle room, to open up a narrow Victorian terrace. That dividing wall usually carries the floor joists above and often part of a chimney stack, so a structural engineer calculates the load and specifies the right RSJ. We install padstones to spread the bearing, prop the structure safely and demolish in careful stages so nothing shifts.
Because the party wall between you and the neighbouring terrace is shared, the Party Wall Act frequently applies when a beam bears into it, so we help you serve the correct notices before work starts. Building control inspects the padstones, the bearing and the fire protection to the steel, then issues the completion certificate. We keep the dust down and the house watertight, whether you live near Telegraph Hill or the streets below.
Load-bearing wall removal in SE23
Not every wall in a Forest Hill terrace is load-bearing, but many homeowners assume wrongly in both directions. We start by investigating the structure above, checking joist direction, chimney breasts and the closet wing at the rear, before anyone swings a hammer. The engineer then decides whether a single RSJ, a pair of beams or a goalpost frame is needed, and we size the padstones and connections to match the actual loads coming down.
Temporary propping is where most of the risk sits, so we support the floors and any masonry above on Acrow props and needles before cutting the opening. Staged demolition keeps the terrace stable and protects the shared party wall from cracking. Once the steel is seated, levelled and bolted, we case it for fire resistance, make good the plaster and hand you a clean opening ready for the next phase of the build.
- Temporary propping and safe demolition
- Padstones, steel columns and beam connections
- Party Wall Act notices and awards
- RSJ and structural steel beam installation
- Load-bearing wall removal and knock-throughs
The GS Renovation Difference in Forest Hill
Forest Hill homeowners choose GS Renovation because we treat the structure as the priority, not an afterthought. One team manages the engineer's calculations, the party wall notices, the propping and the building control sign-off, so nothing falls between trades. With 30+ years across SE23 and neighbouring Catford, Lewisham and Deptford, we know how these terraces are built and where the loads really go.
- 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