How to Remove a Load-Bearing Wall — Step-by-Step UK Guide

What You'll Need

Before You Start

• Engage a structural engineer — they will inspect the wall, determine the loads, design the replacement beam and produce structural calculations and a specification drawing.
• Submit a building control application — either a building notice (quicker, less detail upfront) or full plans application (more detail, formal approval before work starts). The structural calculations and drawings must be included.
• Check whether a Party Wall Act notice is required — if the wall is a party wall or within 3m of an adjoining property's foundations, you may need a party wall agreement.
• Identify and relocate any services in the wall — electrical cables, gas pipes, water pipes, heating pipes, soil pipes. These must be rerouted before demolition.
• Use our Steel Beam Calculator for preliminary sizing and our Padstone Sizing Calculator for bearing calculations — but always defer to your structural engineer's specification.

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Temporary Support

Install acrow props and strongboy attachments (or needle beams through the wall) to temporarily support the structure above the wall. The props must be positioned on scaffold boards to spread the load to the floor below — props on bare floorboards can punch through. The propping arrangement should follow the structural engineer's specification.

Step 2: Install Needle Beams (If Required)

For wider openings or heavier loads, the engineer may specify needle beams — temporary steel beams passed through holes cut in the wall above the opening line. Props support the needle beams on each side. This transfers the load safely while the wall below is removed.

Step 3: Remove the Wall

Carefully demolish the wall below the propping line. Start from the top and work down. Remove brickwork or blockwork in sections, keeping the area clear of debris. Leave the bearing points at each end where the new beam will sit — the engineer will specify how much bearing is required (typically 150mm minimum).

Step 4: Prepare the Bearing Points

Install padstones at each end where the beam will bear. Padstones are typically dense concrete blocks or steel plates that spread the beam load over a wider area of the supporting wall. The engineer will specify the padstone size and type. Bed them on mortar, ensuring they are level.

Step 5: Install the Steel Beam

Lift the steel beam into position — this often requires several people due to the weight (a typical domestic RSJ weighs 30-80kg per metre). Slide it onto the padstones. Pack between the beam and the structure above using steel plates, slate or dry-pack mortar, ensuring full contact with no gaps. The beam must be level.

Step 6: Make Good

Build up brickwork or blockwork around the beam ends to conceal and fire-protect them. The beam may need to be wrapped in plasterboard for fire resistance (30 or 60 minutes depending on the situation — your engineer will specify). Plaster and decorate to match the existing finish.

Step 7: Remove Temporary Support

Only remove acrow props once the beam is fully packed and the mortar/dry pack has cured (typically 24-48 hours minimum). Remove props gradually, checking for any movement. If anything drops or cracks appear, reinstall the props and consult the engineer immediately.

Step 8: Building Control Inspection

Contact building control for an inspection before the beam is concealed. They will check the beam size matches the specification, bearing details are correct, and padstones are in place. Keep the beam visible until the inspector has signed off. A completion certificate will be issued after final inspection.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Working without a structural engineer: This is the single biggest and most dangerous mistake. The beam size, bearing details and propping method must all be designed by a qualified engineer.
• Skipping building control: Work without building control approval is illegal, uninsured and may need to be reversed when you sell the property. Indemnity insurance is not a substitute.
• Inadequate temporary support: Insufficient propping can cause the structure above to sag or collapse during construction. Always follow the engineer's propping specification.
• Insufficient bearing: The beam must bear on adequate padstones over a sufficient length of wall. Short bearings concentrate the load and can crush the supporting wall.
• Not packing the beam properly: Gaps between the beam and the structure above mean the load is not transferred. Use dry pack mortar or steel packing plates to ensure full contact.
• Forgetting fire protection: Steel beams lose strength rapidly in a fire. Building regulations typically require 30-minute fire protection (plasterboard encasement) at minimum.

Cost Estimate (2026 UK Prices)

Use our Steel Beam Calculator and Padstone Sizing Calculator for preliminary estimates — always defer to your structural engineer's specification.