Removing walls and knock-throughs
Opening up a kitchen to a dining room, knocking through from a hallway, creating an open-plan ground floor: these are consistently the most popular internal alterations we carry out. Done well, the result is transformative. Done without proper assessment, it can be genuinely dangerous.
The first question is always whether the wall is load-bearing. A lot of walls in older UK homes are. Sometimes it's obvious from where the wall sits and how the floor above runs. Sometimes it isn't, particularly in Victorian terraces, post-war semis and older Devon and Dorset properties where the construction is less predictable than a modern house. We assess before we quote, not after we've started.
For properties subject to planning conditions or listed building consent, we'd flag that at the start too. Period properties across Sherborne, Bridport, Beaminster and the wider area often have constraints that apply to internal work. Worth knowing before the wall comes down.
RSJs and structural support
Where a load-bearing wall is being removed, the load it was carrying needs to go somewhere. That's the job of an RSJ (steel beam) or similar structural member, positioned at the correct height and bearing on adequate padstones in the remaining walls. The steel needs to be specified correctly: the wrong size or the wrong bearing length creates a deflection problem that shows up later as cracked plaster and sticking doors.
We work with a structural engineer where a calculation is required, which is often the case for larger openings or older buildings with less predictable load paths. The engineer's calculation, combined with our installation, gives you a building regs-compliant result with a paper trail. That matters for insurance and for future sale.
The full property refurbishment page covers projects where internal alterations are part of a larger refit. For garage conversions, the structural opening for the new window or door is part of the same scope.
Building regulations
Removing a load-bearing wall requires Building Regulations notification. It's not optional. We handle the notification through the Competent Persons scheme or advise you to appoint a building inspector where that's the appropriate route. You'll have a completion certificate at the end, which is what your solicitor and buyer's surveyor will ask for if you sell the property.
Non-load-bearing partition walls can generally be removed without notification, but it's worth being certain before starting. We'll tell you what applies to your specific job at the survey stage. If you also need new plumbing run through the altered layout, see general building work for how that fits into the overall project sequence.
What our customers say
"We cannot recommend OWB highly enough. The team have been consistently hard-working, dedicated, knowledgeable and thorough. Thankfully, the work was completed with no issues, time delay or concerns."
Dorchester · Checkatrade