Do I always need calculations to remove a wall?

If the wall is load bearing, yes. If it is genuinely non load bearing, no, but establishing which it is should be a survey judgement rather than a guess.

Who produces the calculations?

A qualified structural engineer produces them, and we coordinate the information, the drawings and the submission so you are not managing two separate appointments.

Are they included in a building regulation package?

They are coordinated with it, so the drawings and the calculations agree with each other when building control receives them.

How long do they take?

A straightforward beam is a short turnaround once survey information exists. Foundations and heavily loaded stone walls take longer because the checks are more involved.

Structure · Cornwall

Structural calculations, what they cover and when building control will ask

Whenever load is removed or redirected, somebody has to demonstrate that what remains carries what is above it. That demonstration is a set of calculations, and building control will ask for it before signing the work off. On Cornish stone and cob buildings the question is more interesting than it sounds, because the load paths are less predictable than in brick and block.

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The common cases

Most domestic calculations fall into a short list, and knowing which one you are in tells you roughly how involved the work will be.

A beam over a removed load bearing wall, with padstone and bearing checks at each end
Loft conversion floor structure and the structural opening for the stair
New openings formed in an external wall for glazing
Foundation design where ground conditions or loading make the standard approach unsuitable
Lateral stability and wind loading on exposed sites

Steel is not always the answer

Engineered timber can work well over shorter spans and is far easier to get into a tight cottage without taking a wall down to do it. The right choice follows the span, the loading and how the beam physically arrives on site.

Ground conditions across Cornwall

Foundations follow the ground rather than the pattern book. Granite close to the surface, soft made ground near estuaries and former mining ground all lead to different answers, which is why a trial hole early is worth the small cost.

Coordination is the part that goes wrong

Calculations issued separately from the drawings produce a package where the beam on the sheet is not the beam on the plan. We bring the sizes and connection details onto the drawings so building control receives one consistent set.

Frequently asked

Straight answers.

Do I always need calculations to remove a wall?: If the wall is load bearing, yes. If it is genuinely non load bearing, no, but establishing which it is should be a survey judgement rather than a guess.
Who produces the calculations?: A qualified structural engineer produces them, and we coordinate the information, the drawings and the submission so you are not managing two separate appointments.
Are they included in a building regulation package?: They are coordinated with it, so the drawings and the calculations agree with each other when building control receives them.
How long do they take?: A straightforward beam is a short turnaround once survey information exists. Foundations and heavily loaded stone walls take longer because the checks are more involved.

Need structural input on a project?

Send us the drawings or the address and we will tell you what calculations the work will need.

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