Structural alterations in Guildford

Covering Guildford

Our coverage around Guildford (GU1) also includes Godalming, Woking and Aldershot.

Homes in the South East

Many South East homes are inter-war or post-war semis and detached houses with room for rear and side extensions, while historic town centres and villages bring conservation area and listed building controls.

What does a structural alteration involve?

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.

Building control application and inspections
Fire protection and plaster encasement
Making good floors, walls and ceilings

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 Guildford?

Projects in England go through two separate checks. Planning (or confirmation that the work is permitted development) comes from the district, borough or unitary council, and building regulations approval comes from the council’s building control team or a registered building control approver. Where work touches a shared wall or digs near a neighbour’s foundations, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies.

Internal work like this does not usually need planning permission unless the house is listed or your permitted development rights have been removed.

What can change the price or programme?

Shared chimney breasts and walls can involve the Party Wall Act.
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.
Survey at your house. We look at the existing structure, services and access, and agree what the design needs to achieve.
Price and paperwork. The design is priced line by line, and we submit the planning and building control applications.
Build and hand over. Our teams build to the programme, building control inspects, and you get the completion paperwork at the end.

Structural alterations: common questions

How do I know if a wall is load-bearing?

We check on site and confirm with the structural engineer.

How long does it take?

The structural work is usually done in a few days, with one to three weeks including making good.

Who deals with the council for a project in Guildford?

We do. We prepare the drawings, submit planning or permitted development paperwork if needed, and arrange building control inspections.

Other towns nearby

Learn more about structural alterations, or see every project we cover in Guildford.