West Sussex · Building Works

Wall removal and steel beams in Burgess Hill

Wall removal and steel beams for homes in Burgess Hill and nearby Haywards Heath, Portslade and Hove, from survey to handover.

Open-plan kitchen dining room after an internal wall was removed

Free survey in Burgess Hill

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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.

Every house in Burgess Hill is a little different, so we never price removing a wall from a brochure. We look at the structure, access and existing finishes first, then put in writing a fixed figure for the scope we settle on. As a rough steer, homeowners in the South East should budget £3,400–£9,000 including VAT, with work typically taking 1–3 weeks including making good.

Guide price
£3,400–£9,000 inc VAT
Time on site
1–3 weeks including making good
Postcodes
RH15
Planning rules
England
Local area
West Sussex
Survey
Free, with a written quote

How much does removing a wall cost in Burgess Hill?

The table below shows guide prices for removing a wall in Burgess Hill. They are based on rates in the South East, which run about 12% above the national guide, giving an overall range of £3,400–£9,000. All figures include VAT and are firmed up after a free site survey.

Type of jobWhat it usually involvesGuide in Burgess Hill
Non-load-bearing wallRemoving a stud or block partition and making good walls, ceiling and floor.£900–£2,200
Load-bearing wall up to 4mA typical kitchen-diner knock-through with one steel beam, calculations and building control.£3,400–£9,000
Wide or complex openingOpenings over 4m, posts, flush beams or chimney breast removal.£9,000–£18,000

Your price depends mostly on:

  • Beam size, posts, flush fixing and padstone details
  • Services in the wall that need rerouting
  • Floor and ceiling repairs where the wall stood
  • Engineer, building control and any party wall costs

Scope of the work

  • Survey to establish what the wall supports and where loads go
  • Structural engineer's calculations and beam specification
  • Building control application and inspections
  • Temporary propping and dust protection during the work
  • Steel beam installed on padstones and packed tight
  • Beam boarded or treated for fire protection
Non-load-bearing partitionA stud or block wall that carries no structure, removed with simple making good.
Steel with postsWide openings that need steel posts or columns for support at intermediate points.
Chimney breast removalRemoving a chimney breast with support for the stack above by steel or brackets.
Flush or hidden beamSteel set within the ceiling depth so no downstand is visible, where joists allow.

Building in Burgess Hill

Chichester has Georgian brick streets, Downland villages use flint and brick, and Horsham stone slabs cover some older roofs. Worthing and Bognor Regis have interwar and post-war bungalows and semis, Crawley was planned as a post-war new town, and Wealden villages to the north feature tile-hanging and timber framing.

Bungalows commonly suit loft conversions and extensions; new-town homes often take window, roofline and cladding renewal. Flint and stone properties need lime repointing, and coastal homes may need external decorating more often.

For removing a wall in Burgess Hill, this means checking things like wall construction, roof structure and existing services before we put a figure on paper.

Do you need permission in Burgess Hill?

For anyone in Burgess Hill, the relevant framework is England's. The summary below is general, so we always contact the council about your address before putting a price in writing.

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.

How does the job run?

  1. We look at the job

    It starts with a survey at the property, free of charge. We check condition, access and services, ask how you want the finished result to look, and answer any questions you have about removing a wall.

  2. Written quote

    We put everything into a written, fixed-price quote: the specification, what's excluded, staged payments and the expected time on site. Take whatever time you need to decide; there's no pressure to commit.

  3. Booking the work

    We handle the paperwork side: checking whether planning permission or building control approval is needed, submitting applications where they are, and scheduling the trades and materials around your dates.

  4. Finish and handover

    The job proceeds in the order set out in the programme, with dust and debris kept under control. Finally we tidy away, inspect the work together and pass the finished project over to you with its paperwork.

What you can expect from us

One point of contactA single named contact handles your project from the first survey to the final handover, so you always know who to call with a question.
Permissions checked firstWe check whether planning permission or building control approval is needed for your property, and handle applications and notices where they apply.
Certified where requiredElectrical, gas and other notifiable work is carried out by suitably registered people, and you receive the relevant certificates when it is finished.
Realistic timetablesWe give you an honest estimate of time on site at the quote stage and keep you informed if anything affects the programme once work starts.

Frequently asked questions

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.

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.

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 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.

Who do I deal with during the job?

One point of contact manages your project from survey to handover. They schedule the trades working under our contract, keep you updated on progress, and are the person to call with any question. You don't need to coordinate builders, electricians or decorators separately, because that is part of what we do.

Nearby towns

We welcome enquiries from all RH15 postcodes in Burgess Hill, plus Haywards Heath, Portslade and Hove. Each one gets the same survey at no charge and a written price fixed for the work described.

Ready for a written price?

Arrange a visit to your home in Burgess Hill, at no charge. We'll measure up for removing a wall, talk through the options and follow up with a fixed price in writing.

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