How long does planning permission take in Northumberland?
A practical guide to how long planning permission usually takes in Northumberland, what can cause delays and simple steps…
Changing the structure of a house is how many homes get the open-plan layout or connection to the garden that the owners want. It needs to be designed properly and carried out carefully – there is no room for guesswork.
Typical structural work
- Removing load-bearing walls to join rooms. See load-bearing wall removal.
- Installing steel beams and posts. See structural steel beam installation.
- Forming new openings for doors and windows, including wide openings for bifold or sliding doors.
- Removing chimney breasts with appropriate support for what remains above.
- Strengthening floors and roofs for new loads.
Engineering first
Structural alterations need a structural engineer's design: calculations showing what loads are carried, the beam sizes, bearings and padstones. Building control reviews these calculations and inspects the work. We coordinate with your engineer, or can suggest how to appoint one.
How we carry out the work
- Protecting the rest of the house from dust and damage.
- Installing temporary props and needles to support the structure above.
- Removing the wall or forming the opening.
- Installing beams on properly built padstones, packed tight.
- Building control inspection, then fire protection, plastering and making good.
Older buildings
In stone houses, walls are often thick and of variable construction – two outer faces with rubble fill between. Forming openings needs care to avoid loosening the core. We take that into account in how we prop, cut and build up bearings.
