Load-Bearing Wall Removal Explained
Opening up a home by removing an internal wall is routine work, but only when it is properly designed. Here is how load-bearing wall removal works, step by step.
Removing a load-bearing wall means replacing the support it provided with a beam, usually a steel beam (often called an RSJ), that carries the loads from above across the new opening. The wall is supported on temporary props while the beam is installed onto padstones at each end. The beam, its bearings and the padstones are sized by structural calculations, and the work requires Building Control approval. With a competent engineer, builder and proper temporary works, it is a safe and common alteration; it is dangerous only when a wall is removed without checking whether it is load-bearing and without a designed replacement.
How do I know if a wall is load-bearing?
A load-bearing wall carries weight from the structure above, such as floor joists, another wall, or the roof. A non-load-bearing partition simply divides space. Reliable clues include:
- The wall runs at right angles to the floor joists above it.
- It continues in the same position through more than one storey.
- It sits directly above another wall or a beam at the level below.
- It is built of masonry (brick or block) rather than a lightweight stud partition.
- It supports a beam, a stair, or the ends of joists.
These are only indicators. Joist direction can be hard to read, and some partitions carry more than they appear to. A structural inspection is the reliable way to confirm what a wall is doing before any decisions are made. If you are also dealing with cracking nearby, our guide on when cracks are structural may help you interpret it.
The replacement beam
Once a wall is confirmed as load-bearing, the loads it carries have to be picked up by a beam spanning the new opening. Most domestic openings use a steel beam, frequently a universal beam or universal column section, sometimes still referred to as an RSJ. Timber or concrete beams are used in some situations. The engineer calculates the loads gathered onto the beam, including dead loads (the permanent weight of the structure) and imposed loads (people, furniture, snow on a roof), then selects a section that is strong enough and stiff enough so that deflection stays within acceptable limits.
Bearings and padstones
A steel beam concentrates a large load at each end. To stop that load from crushing the masonry beneath, the beam bears onto a padstone, a strong concrete or engineered bearing block that spreads the load into the supporting wall. The padstone size and the length of bearing are determined by calculation. The supporting masonry, or any new piers below the beam, must also be checked to confirm it can carry the load down to the foundations.
Structural calculations and drawings
Every load-bearing wall removal should be supported by structural calculations and a clear drawing. These set out the beam size, the bearing details, padstone dimensions, connections, and any propping or strengthening required. They give the builder a buildable specification and give Building Control the evidence they need to approve the work. For a wider view of when calculations are required, see our guide to structural calculations for Building Regulations.
Temporary works and propping
The riskiest moment is between cutting the wall out and getting the new beam in. During this stage the loads above must be held on temporary props, with needles passed through the wall above the line of the opening where required. Temporary works should be planned, not improvised: props need adequate capacity, firm bearing top and bottom, and a sensible sequence of work. This is why load-bearing wall removal is best carried out by an experienced builder following the engineer's design.
Building Control
Removing a load-bearing wall is notifiable structural work and needs Building Regulations approval, either by full plans or a building notice, through the local authority or an approved inspector. The inspector will want to see the calculations and will inspect the beam, bearings and padstones, often before they are concealed. Approval confirms the work meets the structural requirements of the Regulations and gives you a record for any future sale.
A typical sequence
- Confirm the wall is load-bearing
- Survey loads and openings
- Design the beam, bearings and padstones
- Prepare calculations and drawings
- Submit to Building Control
- Install temporary props and needles
- Cut the opening and set the beam on padstones
- Pack, fix and remove props
- Building Control inspection and sign-off
To get a beam designed for your project, see our structural engineering service.
Load-bearing wall questions
How do I know if a wall is load-bearing?
Indicators include walls that run at right angles to the floor joists above, walls that continue through more than one storey, walls that sit above a wall or beam below, and thicker or masonry internal walls. These are only clues; a structural engineer should confirm whether a wall is load-bearing before any work begins.
Do I need Building Regulations approval to remove a load-bearing wall?
Yes. Removing a load-bearing wall is structural work that requires Building Control approval. You will need structural calculations and drawings for the replacement beam, its bearings and padstones, and the work is inspected before sign-off.
What is a padstone and why is it needed?
A padstone is a strong concrete or engineered bearing block placed under each end of a steel beam. It spreads the concentrated load from the beam into the supporting masonry so the wall below is not overstressed. Padstone sizes are determined by structural calculation.
Planning to remove a wall?
Send us a photo or sketch of the wall and the opening you want, and we will advise whether it is load-bearing and design the beam you need.