Structural work is the part you can't see
and can't get wrong.
Every extension needs a foundation. Every open-plan kitchen needs a beam where a wall used to be. Every loft conversion needs ridge steels, purlins and load paths routed down through the building. This is the work that holds everything up — and it happens before any plasterer, electrician or kitchen fitter sets foot on site.
We work with chartered structural engineers who survey the property, produce calculations and structural drawings, and then our team installs the steel, forms the openings, and manages the building control process through to final sign-off. One team. One point of contact. No gaps between design and installation.
Most of our structural work is in Victorian and Edwardian terraces across NW3, NW6 and NW1 — properties with lime mortar, lath-and-plaster ceilings, timber floors and unpredictable load paths. We know what to expect when we open up a wall in a Hampstead terrace, because we've done it hundreds of times.
Six structural specialisms
Every job starts with a structural engineer's report and ends with a building control completion certificate.
Steel Beam & RSJ Installation
Universal beams, parallel flange channels and bespoke fabricated steels. Cut to size, hoisted into position, bolted or welded, packed and grouted. Acrow prop temporary works included.
Load-Bearing Wall Removal
Opening up kitchens, connecting rooms, creating sight-lines. We needle, prop, install the permanent steel, and make good — leaving you with an open-plan space and a signed-off beam.
Underpinning & Foundations
Traditional mass concrete underpinning in sequential bays. Mini-piling where access is restricted. Foundation strengthening for extensions, basement lowering and subsidence remediation.
Loft Conversion Steelwork
Ridge beams, valley steels, purlins and dormer support structures. Engineered for mansard, hip-to-gable, dormer and velux conversions with load paths traced down through the existing building.
Chimney Breast Removal
Full or partial chimney breast removal with gallows brackets or needle supports above. Stack removed or retained above depending on conservation and party wall requirements.
Building Control & Certification
Every structural job gets: chartered engineer calculations, structural drawings, building control application, on-site inspections, and a completion certificate for your records and future sales.
How steel gets into your house
Most people have never seen a beam installed. Here's what actually happens — and why every step matters.
Structural Survey & Engineering Design
A chartered structural engineer visits the property, inspects the walls, floors and roof, and identifies what's load-bearing and what isn't. They produce structural calculations specifying exactly which beam size, connection details and bearing requirements are needed.
Building Control Submission
The structural drawings and calculations are submitted to your local authority's Building Control department — or an approved inspector. No structural work should start until this is approved or a building notice is accepted.
Temporary Works & Propping
Before any wall is removed, Acrow props and needles are installed to transfer the load above to the floor below. This is the safety-critical phase — the temporary works must carry the full load until the permanent steel is in place.
Steel Installation
The beam — typically a Universal Beam (UB) or Parallel Flange Channel (PFC) — is lifted into position, levelled, packed with slate or steel shims, and seated onto concrete padstones or steel bearing plates. Fire protection is applied where required.
Inspection, Grouting & Certification
Building Control inspects the exposed steel before it's covered. Once approved, the beam is grouted in, the wall is made good, and a completion certificate is issued. This certificate is essential for selling or remortgaging the property.
"Their structural team made what I thought would be a nightmare — removing two load-bearing walls on the ground floor — completely straightforward. Engineer on Monday, steels in by Thursday, building control signed off the following week. Excellent."Cirus RehmanHomeowner, Hampstead NW3
Structural work we've designed and delivered
6–10 Carlton Lodge, Belgravia SW1X
Structural alterations across four apartments and a penthouse duplex. Steel beams installed for floor-to-floor openings, new staircase void formed, and complete roof reconstruction — all within a Grade II listed building envelope requiring coordination with heritage consultants.
128 King's Road, Chelsea SW3
Major structural interventions to convert ground-floor offices into a Calzedonia retail unit and upper floors into three apartments. New mansard roof extension with steel ridge and hip beams. Full underpinning of party wall foundations to support additional loading.
2 Holland Avenue, Wimbledon SW19
Complete structural package for a loft conversion, two-storey rear extension and single-storey side extension. New foundations, structural steels at every level, and careful coordination with existing timber structure. All building control inspections passed first time.
What does structural work cost?
These are realistic ranges for London. Every job is different — pricing depends on beam size, access, temporary works and building control requirements.
| Structural Work | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Single RSJ installation (load-bearing wall removal) | £1,500 – £3,500 |
| Double beam / twin UB installation | £3,000 – £6,000 |
| Chimney breast removal (single floor) | £1,200 – £2,500 |
| Full chimney breast removal (all floors + stack) | £3,000 – £6,000 |
| Loft conversion steelwork package | £3,000 – £8,000 |
| Underpinning (per linear metre) | £1,000 – £1,500/m |
| Structural engineer's report & calculations | £600 – £1,200 |
| Building control application & sign-off | £400 – £800 |
All prices exclude VAT. Includes supply, delivery, temporary works and installation. Engineer's fees quoted separately unless part of a larger project.
Things worth knowing before you start
Party Wall Act
If your structural work affects a wall shared with a neighbour — or is within 3 metres of their foundations — you'll need a Party Wall Agreement under the Party Wall Act 1996. We arrange this for you.
Building Regulations
All structural alterations require Building Regulations approval. We submit either a Building Notice or Full Plans application, depending on the complexity of the work. Completion certificates are issued on sign-off.
Period Properties
Victorian and Edwardian houses have lime mortar, rubble-fill walls and irregular load paths. We know how these buildings behave — and our engineers specify beams and bearings that account for the real conditions, not textbook assumptions.
Insurance & Warranties
We carry £10M professional indemnity and public liability insurance through Aviva. All structural work comes with our 5-year workmanship warranty. Engineer's Professional Indemnity insurance covers the structural design.
"A company where you get value for your money while at the same time achieving excellent quality. Their work is carried out on time and within budget. We've worked with them on multiple projects and they never disappoint."Brian Ingham, DirectorGreen Evolution Limited
Structural works FAQ
If a wall runs perpendicular to the floor joists above, it's very likely load-bearing. But the only way to know for certain is to have a structural engineer inspect it. We can arrange a survey — typically within a few days — and the engineer will confirm what can and can't be removed.
A single beam installation (one load-bearing wall removal) typically takes 2–3 days on site. Day one for propping and forming the opening, day two for steel installation, and day three for grouting and making good. Building control inspection happens before the beam is covered.
Usually not — internal structural alterations are covered by Building Regulations, not planning permission. However, if you're in a listed building or conservation area, you may need Listed Building Consent. We'll advise you before any work starts.
For a single beam installation, yes — it's noisy and dusty for a few days but you can usually stay. For larger structural packages (multiple beams, underpinning, loft steelwork), it depends on the extent. We'll discuss this during the survey.
Yes, always. Building Control requires structural calculations produced by a chartered engineer (CEng or IStructE member) for any load-bearing alteration. Without these, the work won't be signed off — and that causes problems when you sell.
Your solicitor will flag it during a sale. Buyers' solicitors and mortgage lenders require evidence that structural work was done with Building Control approval. If you don't have a completion certificate, you'll need retrospective approval or indemnity insurance — both of which are costly and time-consuming.
Book a structural survey
Tell us what you're trying to achieve — whether it's one wall removal or a full structural package — and we'll arrange a site visit with our engineer. No obligation, honest advice.
Unit 3, Palace Court, 250 Finchley Road, Hampstead, London NW3 6DN
Mon–Fri 9am–8pm · Saturday 9am–6pm · Sunday by appointment
Company Reg: 16838595 · £10M Insurance (Aviva) · FMB Member · TrustMark