GS Renovation carries out structural alterations across Greenwich, from new openings in Georgian townhouses near the Maritime Museum to replacement joists and underpinning in the Victorian terraces of SE7 and SE18. Over 30 years of work in this borough means we understand how its period homes are built and where they need proper structural support.
Structural alterations in Greenwich's period homes
Structural alterations cover far more than a single knock-through: new door and window openings, supported openings between rooms, replacement joists where old timbers have sagged, and underpinning where foundations need strengthening. In Greenwich's Georgian and Regency stock, much of it listed or within conservation areas, these jobs demand a careful, measured approach that respects the original construction rather than fighting it.
Every alteration starts with a structural engineer's assessment and calculations. Where an opening is formed, we prop the structure, size a steel beam and set it on padstones bearing into sound masonry. For sagging floors near SE9 and SE10 we replace joists to the correct span and grade, and where movement is a concern we underpin to a designed depth, always staged so the building stays supported throughout.
Consents and controls for Greenwich alterations
Internal structural alterations fall under the Building Regulations, so the Royal Borough of Greenwich's building control inspects the propping, the steelwork and the bearings and certifies the finished job. Planning permission is a separate matter that only applies to exterior alterations on listed buildings or within the borough's conservation areas, which cover large parts of central Greenwich, Blackheath and beyond.
Many of these homes share a party wall with the house next door, particularly the terraces of Charlton, Woolwich and Eltham, so forming openings or underpinning near that wall is notifiable under the Party Wall Act and you serve notice on neighbours in advance. We coordinate the engineer, the consents and building control so the alteration proceeds cleanly from first prop to final sign-off.
- Crack repair, helical bar stitching and masonry restraint
- Trial holes to confirm foundation depth and ground conditions
- Building control applications and completion certification
- Temporary works, propping and needling
- Floor structure, joist and beam replacement
Trusted Structural Alterations in Greenwich
For structural alterations in Greenwich, GS Renovation gives you a single team responsible from design to certification. We commission the engineer, serve install steel on padstones, underpin or replace joists as designed, and secure building control sign-off. Work is staged so your period home stays supported and lived-in throughout, backed by 30+ years across SE Greenwich.
- Itemised pricing, so you can see what every stage costs
- Site left safe and secure at the end of every day
- We build to the party wall award the surveyors agree, to the letter
- Free follow-up visit after completion if anything needs attention
- Materials priced at options, so you choose the finish
- Load paths carried properly down to foundations