Structural alterations in Portrush

Covering Portrush

Alongside Portrush, we also cover Coleraine, Ballymoney (10 miles to the south-east) and Limavady.

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 Portrush?

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.

Planning and building control applications to the council
Structural engineer’s design and calculations
Making good floors, walls and ceilings

What will a structural alteration cost?

Typical ranges for structural alterations. Ground conditions, access and specification move the final figure, which we fix in writing before work starts.

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

What approvals does a structural alteration need in Northern Ireland?

Projects in Northern Ireland need planning clearance from one of the eleven councils and building control approval, also from the council. The Party Wall etc. Act does not extend to Northern Ireland, so work near neighbours is agreed directly and documented carefully.

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.
Removing walls can affect the fire escape route on open-plan ground floors in three-storey houses.

What happens after I enquire?

Send us the details. Give us a postcode, a rough idea of size and some photos, by phone, form or the guide price tool.
We visit and measure. A surveyor checks the house, the boundaries and the ground, and discusses what is realistic.
Drawings, approvals, written quote. We prepare the design, apply for the approvals it needs, and give you a fixed price in writing.
Construction and completion. One site lead co-ordinates every trade through to the building control certificate.

Questions about a structural alteration in Portrush

How long does it take?

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

Can the steel be hidden in the ceiling?

Often it can be set within the floor depth, avoiding a downstand. The engineer confirms what is possible.

Who deals with the council for a project in Portrush?

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

Structural alterations in nearby towns

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