Opening up a wall for sliding or bifold doors
Wide openings in a rear or side wall transfer the load above onto a new beam and its supports. Our assessment reviews your photos, drawings and dimensions and sets out the structural questions your project raises.
What the assessment covers
- • Span of the proposed opening and what sits above it (roof, one storey, two storeys)
- • Wall construction: solid masonry, cavity wall, timber frame, concrete
- • Likely need for a steel beam (RSJ/UB), padstones and temporary propping
- • Bearing at each end of the opening and the load path down to the foundations
What you send us
- • Photos of the wall inside and outside, including the full elevation above
- • Existing plans and, if you have them, the proposed layout
- • Target opening width and height, and wall thickness
- • Property age, number of storeys above, and whether the wall is external
What you receive
- • Indicative risk level and confidence rating
- • Budget range for the structural works
- • Watch points: bearings, propping, cavity closers, thermal bridging
- • Whether engineer's calculations and building control involvement are expected
Avertissement légal
Ce document est informatif. Il ne constitue ni une note de calcul, ni un diagnostic réglementaire, ni une validation d'exécution de travaux. Aucun avis produit par la plateforme ne constitue une note de calcul, un diagnostic réglementaire ou une validation d'exécution de travaux. Aucune décision de travaux ne doit être prise sans validation par un professionnel qualifié (architecte, bureau d'études structure, ingénieur).
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a steel beam?
Almost always for an opening of this size in a load-bearing wall. The section size depends on span and loading and must come from a chartered structural engineer's calculation — the report identifies the parameters that drive it.
Is planning permission required?
Replacing a rear wall opening is often permitted development for houses, but conservation areas, listed buildings and flats have different rules. Building regulations approval is separate and normally required.
What about a party wall notice?
If the works affect a shared wall or excavate near a neighbour's foundations, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply in England and Wales. The report flags when this is likely.