Wall removal is taking out an internal wall to open up rooms; where the wall is load-bearing, a steel beam sized by a structural engineer is installed on padstones to carry the weight above, with the work approved by building control.
Whatever type of house you own in Eltham, we start by looking at how removing a wall would fit it rather than offering a standard package. We cover SE2, SE9, SE18 and SE28 and neighbouring places such as Blackheath, Welling and Catford. One named person looks after you from survey to handover, and nothing is booked until you hold our figure in writing, fixed for the work described.
- Guide price
- £3,900–£10,500 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–3 weeks including making good
- Postcodes
- SE2, SE9, SE18 and SE28
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Greater London
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
Wall removal and steel beams prices in Eltham
The table below shows guide prices for removing a wall in Eltham. They are based on rates in London, which run about 30% above the national guide, giving an overall range of £3,900–£10,500. All figures include VAT and are firmed up after a free site survey.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Eltham |
|---|---|---|
| Non-load-bearing wall | Removing a stud or block partition and making good walls, ceiling and floor. | £1,050–£2,600 |
| Load-bearing wall up to 4m | A typical kitchen-diner knock-through with one steel beam, calculations and building control. | £3,900–£10,500 |
| Wide or complex opening | Openings over 4m, posts, flush beams or chimney breast removal. | £10,500–£21,000 |
Your price depends mostly on:
- Opening width and the load the wall carries
- Beam size, posts, flush fixing and padstone details
- Services in the wall that need rerouting
- Engineer, building control and any party wall costs
Scope of the work
- Structural engineer's calculations and beam specification
- Building control application and inspections
- Wall taken down and waste removed from site
- Steel beam installed on padstones and packed tight
- Beam boarded or treated for fire protection
- Plastering, flooring repairs and making good ready for decorating
Local housing and removing a wall
London's housing is dominated by Victorian and Edwardian terraces, often in yellow London stock brick, with Georgian terraces in central districts and mansion blocks across many inner areas. Outer boroughs have large belts of interwar semis, and there are extensive post-war council estates. Many houses have been split into flats, and conservation areas are widespread.
Terraces suit side-return extensions and rear dormer loft conversions; interwar semis commonly take hip-to-gable lofts. Shared party walls, restricted parking and conservation rules often shape the plans and the programme.
If your house in Eltham fits one of these patterns, it helps us anticipate what removing a wall will involve, though we always confirm the details on site.
Planning and building rules in Eltham
Planning law differs across the UK. For a home in Eltham, it is the England rules below that count, and we check them with the council ahead of any quote.
Removing an internal wall does not need planning permission in England unless the house is listed.
If the wall is load-bearing, Building Regulations approval is needed, with a structural engineer’s calculations for the steel beam and padstones. Where the beam bears on a shared wall, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
The four stages
Free site survey
First, someone visits your home in Eltham to see the space, take measurements and note anything that could affect the work, such as access or the condition of what is there. There is no charge for this visit.
Price and scope agreed
The quote arrives in writing, not over the phone. It covers the full scope, the finishes you've chosen, any exclusions and the payment schedule, with a fixed price tied to that specification.
Getting ready
With the quote agreed, we book the work in and handle preparation: permissions where needed, building control notifications, material orders and access arrangements for your Eltham property.
Build and hand over
Work goes ahead as scheduled and you deal with one contact throughout. When the last trade leaves, we clear and clean the site, talk you through what has been done and pass on any certificates and care instructions.
How we work
Frequently asked questions
What happens to pipes and cables in the wall?
Pipes, cables and radiators in a wall being removed must be rerouted before demolition. Electrical work is done and certified by a qualified electrician, and pipework is diverted by a plumber, usually through the ceiling void or floor. We identify services during the survey and include rerouting in the quote, so there are no surprises once work starts.
Is the price fixed?
Yes, for the specification we agree. Your written quote sets out exactly what is included at a fixed price. It only changes if you ask for something different, or if a problem the survey could not reasonably reveal later needs extra work. In either case we explain the change and confirm it in writing before going ahead.
What is a steel beam and why is it needed?
A steel beam, often called an RSJ, is a strong steel section installed where a load-bearing wall used to be, so the weight above is carried across the opening to the walls at each end. It sits on padstones that spread the load. The size depends on the span and the load, which a structural engineer calculates. The beam is then boxed in or plastered.
Do you cover Blackheath, Welling and Catford?
Yes. As well as Eltham, we cover Blackheath, Welling and Catford and the rest of London. Our coverage is UK-wide, so the process is the same wherever you are: a free site survey, a quote in writing that fixes the price for the agreed scope, and one point of contact while the work is planned and carried out.
Can I have a beam that does not show?
A flush or hidden beam sits within the depth of the ceiling so there is no visible downstand, giving a clean, open look. It is possible where the floor joists can be connected into the side of the beam, which takes more steel and labour. It costs more than a standard beam below the ceiling. The engineer confirms whether it suits your house.
Also covering areas around Eltham
If your address falls within SE2, SE9, SE18 and SE28, we cover it. The same goes for neighbouring Blackheath, Welling and Catford, which we include alongside Eltham when arranging surveys and quotes.