Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, if you are removing a load-bearing wall to create an open-plan space, Building Control will require professional structural calculations. Our fixed-price service (from £450 for one wall / single beam) provides the precise steel beam (RSJ) specifications, padstone details and connection drawings your builder needs to ensure the project is safe and compliant.

The most reliable way is a professional assessment. As a rough guide, walls that run perpendicular to floor joists, or that sit above other walls or beams on lower floors, are more likely to be load-bearing. Party walls between semi-detached houses are almost always structural. If in doubt, our Non-Load-Bearing Wall Check (£285) gives you an official letter confirming the wall type.

We visit your property, assess the wall, design the steel beam (RSJ) and padstone arrangement and provide a complete technical pack. Your builder uses this to order the steel and carry out the work. Building Control must inspect the installed steelwork before it is boxed in. We provide all the documentation needed for Building Control approval.

No. Any removal of a load-bearing wall requires Building Control notification and professional structural calculations. Without them, the work is unauthorised and could prevent you from selling or remortgaging in future. A builder who suggests skipping calculations is putting you at risk.

Our Structural Report for One Concern is a focused assessment of one specific issue — a crack, bulging wall, or surveyor red flag. Our Full House Structural Inspection covers the property's main structural elements more broadly. One concern reports are from £480 and full house inspections are from £585. Not sure which you need? Call us and we'll advise honestly.

Yes. All our inspections are carried out by ICE-Chartered Engineers (CEng MICE). Our reports are regularly used for lender, solicitor and insurance questions during residential transactions.

Don't panic — many cracks are cosmetic or caused by normal settlement. A Structural Report for One Concern by a Chartered Engineer will diagnose the cause, confirm the level of risk and provide the report often needed to move the next decision forward. This is one of the most common situations we deal with and in the majority of cases the outcome is reassuring.

Cracks wider than 1mm, diagonal or stepped through brickwork, or that appear to be getting wider should be investigated. Hairline cracks in plaster are usually cosmetic. Our engineers use professional gauges to determine whether movement is historic and stable, or active and progressive. We'll give you a straight answer.

We offer transparent, fixed-price packages. Wall Removal Calculations from £450 for one wall / single beam, Specific Structural Inspections from £480 and General Structural Inspections from £585. There is no call-out charge and no hourly billing. See our full pricing page for details.

Our engineers visit all major Midlands towns at least once a week. We aim to visit within a few days of booking. Inspection reports are usually delivered within 3–5 working days of the site visit and wall-removal packs are usually delivered within 3–7 working days. If a house sale or mortgage is time-critical, let us know and we'll prioritise where we can.

Your Chartered Engineer prepares a detailed report. For wall removals, this includes beam sizes, padstone details and drawings ready for Building Control. For inspections, it includes findings, causes and clear recommendations. Reports are delivered electronically within 3–5 working days of the visit.

We cover 100+ postcodes across the East and West Midlands, including Leicester, Coventry, Nottingham, Derby, Northampton, Milton Keynes, Birmingham and surrounding areas. A small Zone C surcharge applies to some inspection visits at the edge of our coverage — always confirmed upfront.