Structural Alterations in Guildford
Opening up a house or changing how it is laid out is one of the biggest improvements you can make, and it nearly always involves structural work. At Tanner Construction we carry out structural alterations across Guildford and the wider Surrey area, from taking out a single load-bearing wall to reworking the whole ground floor. We remove walls, fit steel beams, form new openings and create open plan space, all done safely and signed off properly so the house stays sound for years to come.
Because we are a family run building company, the whole job stays with one team. We do not bring in a string of separate trades who never speak to each other. The same builders who handle the groundwork and the steel also do the making good, the plastering and the decorating, so the finished room looks like it was always meant to be that way. We work closely with structural engineers and building control from the start, and we keep you informed at every stage so you always know what is happening in your home.
What structural work we carry out
Most structural alterations are about getting more light and space out of the rooms you already have. We take on jobs of all sizes, whether you want to knock two rooms into one or completely open up the back of the house. Here are the kinds of work we are asked to do most often:
- Removing load-bearing walls and fitting the right steel or RSJ beam to carry the load above
- Knock-throughs to join a kitchen and dining room or two reception rooms into one open plan space
- Forming new door and window openings, including wide openings for bi-fold or sliding doors
- Chimney breast removal on one or more floors, with proper support put in for what remains
- Opening up the ground floor as part of a larger extensions or renovation project
- Inserting beams and posts to take out internal walls while keeping the floors above fully supported
- Making good around the new steelwork, including boxing in, plastering and finishing ready for decorating
Done properly and finished to a high standard
Structural work is only as good as the support that goes in behind it, so we never cut corners on the parts you cannot see. Every steel is sized by a structural engineer, set on the correct padstones or bearings, and installed with the floors above properly held while we work. The steel is then fire protected and boxed in neatly so it disappears into the room. When the structure is done, the same team carries on with the plastering, the floor levelling and the decorating, which is the real benefit of having one firm handle the whole job.
We treat your home with respect while we are in it. We sheet up and protect floors and furniture, keep the dust down as much as we can, and clear up properly at the end of each day. The aim is a room that not only works better but looks finished, with clean lines around the new opening and no sign of where the old wall used to be.
Planning permission and building regulations
Most internal structural alterations do not need planning permission, but they almost always come under building regulations because you are changing how the house supports itself. This is where the structural engineer's calculations and building control sign off matter. We arrange the engineer's calcs, submit them to building control, and have the work inspected and approved at the right stages so you end up with the certificate that confirms the job was done correctly. If your home is listed or in a conservation area, or the work ties into a larger project that does need permission, we will tell you early and guide you through what is involved.
Why choose Tanner Construction
Structural work makes people nervous, and rightly so, because it is the part of a building you cannot easily put right later. We take that seriously. We plan each job carefully with the engineer before any wall comes down, we use the correct temporary support, and we work to building regulations from start to finish. You get one team you can talk to, one point of contact, and a tidy site you are happy to live alongside.
We are based in Fairlands and look after homeowners right across Guildford, Woking and the surrounding villages. Whether it is a single knock-through or a full reworking of the ground floor, we will look at the house, talk you through the sensible options, and give you honest advice on what will work best for your home and budget. Our aim is simple, professional, quality and reliable building work that lasts. Structural work often forms part of a bigger project too, so if you are also planning extensions or a full renovation, we can take care of the whole job under one roof.