Covering Belfast
Our coverage around Belfast (BT1, BT2, BT3) also includes Newtownabbey, Holywood and Lisburn.
Homes in County Antrim
Housing in Northern Ireland mixes terraces in Belfast and Derry with detached houses and bungalows in towns and rural areas, many with room to extend.
What is included in a structural alteration in Belfast?
Structural alterations change the load-bearing parts of a house, most often removing a wall between two rooms and putting in a steel beam to create an open-plan layout. The work needs a structural engineer’s design and building regulations approval.
- Structural engineer’s design and calculations
- Temporary works and propping
- Fire protection and plaster encasement
What will a structural alteration cost?
What structural alterations typically cost. These are guide ranges; the written quote for your house replaces them.
| Structural alterations | Guide price incl. VAT |
|---|---|
| Single load-bearing wall removal with steel | £3,000 to £7,500 |
| Chimney breast removal with support | £1,800 to £4,500 |
| Multiple walls or full open-plan remodel | £8,000 to £20,000 |
How is a structural alteration approved in Belfast?
Northern Ireland projects need planning clearance and building control approval from the local council. We prepare the applications and agree any work near neighbouring property directly with the neighbours.
Internal alterations rarely need planning permission in Northern Ireland, but structural work needs building control approval.
What should I think about before starting?
- The beam size can mean a downstand in the ceiling unless it is set flush within the floor.
- Pipes and cables in the wall need rerouting first.
How does the project run?
- Send us the details. Give us a postcode, a rough idea of size and some photos, by phone, form or the guide price tool.
- Free site visit. We measure up, look at access, drains and the structure, and talk through options and budget.
- Drawings, approvals, written quote. We prepare the design, apply for the approvals it needs, and give you a fixed price in writing.
- We build it. Work follows an agreed programme, with inspections at each stage and a final sign-off.
Questions about a structural alteration in Belfast
How much does it cost to remove a load-bearing wall?
Usually £3,000 to £7,500 including VAT for a single wall with a steel beam, calculations and making good.
How long does it take?
The structural work is usually done in a few days, with one to three weeks including making good.
Can you visit a house in Belfast to quote?
Yes. After a short call we arrange a site visit to measure up and agree what the design needs to do, then send a written price.
Structural alterations near Belfast
- Structural alterations in Newtownabbey
- Structural alterations in Holywood
- Structural alterations in Lisburn
- Structural alterations in Comber
Learn more about structural alterations, or see every project we cover in Belfast.