Structural Alterations by Experienced Builders
Removing a load-bearing wall, taking out a chimney breast or forming a large opening changes how the loads in a building travel to the ground. Done properly it is straightforward. Done badly it causes cracking, sagging floors and problems that surface years later when you come to sell.
Harcol Ltd carry out structural alterations across Kent, Surrey and Sussex. We work from a structural engineer's calculations, install the correct steel or timber, and make sure the work is signed off, so the change is documented as well as done.
Structural Work We Carry Out
The alterations we are asked for most often are:
- Removing load-bearing walls and fitting steel beams
- Forming openings for bi-folds, patio doors and knock-throughs
- Chimney breast removal with proper support above
- Underpinning and foundation strengthening
- New openings in external walls
- Floor and roof structure alterations
Every job is built to an engineer's design rather than to a rule of thumb.
Calculations, Approval and Sign-Off
Structural work is notifiable, and the paperwork matters as much as the build:
- Structural engineer's calculations obtained before work starts
- Building control notified and inspections arranged
- Completion certification so the work is documented for resale
Unsigned-off structural work is one of the most common reasons a sale stalls, which is why we handle this as part of the job.
Temporary Support and Safety
The riskiest part of any structural alteration is the hour the wall is out and the beam is not yet in. We use proper needling and propping designed for the load, and we do not cut corners on temporary works to save a day.
Making Good Afterwards
A beam that has been installed correctly should be invisible when we leave. We box in, plaster, and finish so the alteration reads as though the room was always that shape, rather than leaving an obvious repair line across the ceiling.
Structural Alterations Across Kent and Sussex
We carry out structural alterations across Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Crowborough, Oxted and Maidstone, and the surrounding villages.
Our local pages: Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Crowborough, Oxted, Maidstone.