Steel beams & wall removal in Brighton & Hove
Opening up Brighton & Hove’s terraces, semis and flats with properly designed steelwork, from just over the Downs in Hassocks.
Why so many Brighton & Hove homes need a beam
Brighton & Hove is full of Victorian and Edwardian terraces, from the streets around Preston Park and Hanover to Hove’s long avenues. Most were built as a run of small rooms: a front parlour, a back room and a narrow kitchen in a rear outrigger. Joining the two reception rooms, or opening the back room into the kitchen, is the classic way to make these houses work for modern family life. Interwar and post-war semis in places like Patcham, Withdean and Hangleton often have the same opportunity between the kitchen and dining room.
In most of these houses the wall you want to remove is load-bearing. It may carry the floor above, the wall above, or a chimney breast that has already been taken out downstairs, so the steel has to be designed for what is really there.
Call Josh on 07518 403458 (Mon–Fri, 7:30am–6pm) or send us your details through our contact form. Quotes are free and without obligation.
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How the work is done
- A structural engineer inspects and designs the beam, bearings and any padstones or piers.
- Building Regulations approval is obtained, through Brighton & Hove City Council’s building control or a registered building control approver.
- Party Wall notices are served if the beam bears into a shared wall, which is very common in a terrace.
- Temporary supports go in, the wall comes out and the beam is installed and packed.
- The steel is fire protected, then we plaster, make good floors and ceilings and decorate.
Chimney breasts deserve a special mention. Removing one downstairs while leaving the stack and upper breast in place needs designed support, and both building control and your neighbour may have an interest if the chimney is shared.
Planning, listed buildings and flats
Internal structural work on a house does not normally need planning permission, and Brighton & Hove City Council’s Article 4 directions in conservation areas are mainly about outside changes such as windows, doors and roofs. Listed buildings are different: internal alterations to a listed building need listed building consent, and the city has many of them. If you own a flat, you will usually need the freeholder’s permission under your lease before touching a structural wall.
Working in Brighton & Hove
We are based in Hassocks, around 20 minutes north of the city, and plan city jobs around parking and access, which are often the trickiest part of a terrace knock-through. Because our team covers plastering, carpentry, electrics and decorating, the opening is finished properly rather than handed over as a building site. Our general steel beams and wall removal page explains more, and one of our Google reviews describes a kitchen-to-dining room knock-through using three steels.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need planning permission to knock through in Brighton?
Not normally for internal work in a house. You need Building Regulations approval, and listed buildings need listed building consent. Flats usually need the freeholder’s consent.
What is an RSJ?
RSJ stands for rolled steel joist. People use it for any steel beam that carries the load once a wall is removed. The engineer specifies the exact section.
Do I need to tell my neighbours?
If the beam bears into a party wall, which is common in terraces and semis, you will normally need to serve notice under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
Can you take out a chimney breast too?
Often, yes, but whatever remains above must be properly supported, and that needs to be designed and approved.
Talk to us about your project
Call Josh on 07518 403458 (Mon–Fri, 7:30am–6pm) or send us your details through our contact form. Quotes are free and without obligation.
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