GS Renovation carries out structural alterations throughout Old Street and EC1, from new openings in warehouse-conversion brickwork to replacement joists in contemporary apartments near Clerkenwell. Over 30 years of building work has taught us that these converted and new-build homes hide surprises behind their finishes, so every alteration begins with proper engineering rather than guesswork.
Openings and beams in Old Street apartments
Forming a new opening in an Old Street flat means understanding what sits above it. In a warehouse conversion that might be a thick masonry wall or a section of the original industrial frame; in a new-build near the Angel it could be a blockwork or concrete element tied into the whole structure. We have an engineer calculate the loads and specify a steel beam that bears onto padstones and transfers weight safely into the remaining structure.
Replacement joists, supported openings and localised underpinning all follow the same disciplined method. We install temporary propping, expose the structure, carry out the work in controlled stages, and only remove props once the new steel or timber is fully bearing. Working inside an occupied EC1 apartment, we protect floors and shared communal routes, keep dust contained, and keep the flats around yours undisturbed while the alteration is made.
Consents and sign-off around Clerkenwell
Structural alterations in a Clerkenwell or Old Street leasehold flat need the freeholder's licence to alter, and your managing agent will want to see the engineer's drawings, method and insurance before granting it. We assemble that package and coordinate the approvals, then work within building-management rules covering working hours, protection of common parts and use of the lift, so consent is never a stumbling block.
These works fall under the Building Regulations, so Islington Council's building control inspects the beams, padstones or underpinning and issues certification, no planning permission is required for internal structural work. Only exterior changes in a conservation area or to a listed building would need planning consent, which does not apply to an internal alteration. Where an alteration touches a wall shared with an adjoining flat, we also address the Party Wall Act.
- Load paths carried down to foundations on new piers and pads
- Temporary works, propping and needling
- Building control applications and completion certification
- Structural surveys and engineer coordination
- Underpinning and foundation strengthening in sequenced bays
Trusted Structural Alterations in Old Street
Old Street clients choose GS Renovation because structural alterations demand one team that owns the whole job. We provide engineer-designed steel, arrange the freeholder's licence to alter, coordinate the managing agent, and see Islington building control through to certification. Safe propping, staged demolition, tidy protected working and 30+ years of EC1 experience give you a result you can trust.
- Itemised pricing, so you can see what every stage costs
- A written scope and programme agreed before work starts
- Trial holes dug to confirm what is under the building
- Underpinning carried out in sequenced bays, never one long trench
- Building control applications and inspections coordinated for you
- Every alteration certified rather than quietly built over