Open-concept houses are gaining popularity and becoming one of the most prominent trends in modern houses. Whether you want to have a bigger kitchen or more natural light in your house, the first step is probably removing walls. However, if the wall is load-bearing, this process becomes way more complicated and, needless to mention, way more risky.
Load-bearing walls are there to support the structure of your home. They can help with the weight of your roof, your upper floors, etc. So, removing them without a good plan in mind can be the cause of structural failure, or, in the worst-case scenario, a total collapse. This is exactly why you must approach this process with the right professionals, permits, and safety measures.
Removing Load-Bearing Walls the Right Way
In this article, we will explore how you can safely remove a load-bearing wall and which experts can help you do it all correctly. And we’re starting with ProStruct Engineering.
ProStruct Engineering
ProStruct Engineering is a structural and civil engineering firm that offers different services, including site inspections, structural and civil calculations, and development of engineering plans for residential and commercial projects.
- Specialized in Structural Wall Removal
ProStruct offers a full range of professional services to help you with load bearing wall removal. Their engineers take care of all the calculations, create custom plans, and prepare permit-ready plan sets in compliance with any necessary regulations.
- Permit Guarantee & 100% Success Rate
With 3,000 successful projects and a 100% permit approval success rate, they guarantee permit approval, so you can relax throughout this stressful process.
- Fast Turnaround Time
If you’re on a tight timeline, this might be a good option for you, as ProStruct gives a free quote within 24 hours, and most of their engineering plans are delivered within 2–3 weeks.
- Licensed, Insured, and Experienced
ProStruct’s engineers are experienced, licensed, and insured. The firm itself has over 35 years of experience in the field, making it a trustworthy option.
- Budget-Friendly and Transparent Pricing
The firm also has fixed prices and no hidden fees, making structural engineering accessible for homeowners and builders alike.
Load-Bearing Wall Pros
Load-Bearing Wall Pros, a firm based in Texas, focuses exclusively on removing load-bearing walls in residential homes. Their entire business revolves around making open-concept transformations safe and efficient.
- All-in-One Service
Load-Bearing Wall Pros handle everything from engineering to removal and even post-removal finishing work. This means no more working with multiple vendors for you.
- In-House Engineers and Builders
They have structural engineers and experienced framing crews, which helps them offer a streamlined service and make sure that the design and construction processes are well aligned with each other.
- Specialized Expertise
This firm has successfully removed thousands of load-bearing walls since its foundation. Their engineers are extremely professional and experienced in this specific field.
- Free Estimates and On-Site Assessments
They offer free consultations and can visit your home to evaluate whether your wall is load-bearing and what support beam would be needed to replace it.
SECalcs
SECalcs is a structural engineering firm that is based in the UK. It offers load-bearing wall removal and RSJ (Rolled Steel Joist) design services to residential homeowners. They offer Building Control–ready engineering packs that already meet all the necessary safety regulations.
- RSJ and Steel Beam Design
Every wall removal plan offered by SECalcs is designed by Chartered Structural Engineers. This means that each support element for your wall is correctly specified to help carry out the plan safely.
- Building Control–Ready Documentation
SECalcs offers complete calculation and drawing packs that are ready for submission to Building Control. This will help you avoid delays due to poor documentation and give you clear documentation of processes to follow on-site.
- Fast and Affordable Fixed-Fee Service
This firm offers fixed prices for RSJ and beam design services that cover typical wall removal projects. Most of their projects are completed within 24 to 72 hours, depending on the difficulty of the project.
- Remote Design from Photos and Drawings
Many of the projects can be designed without actually visiting the sites, so homeowners can get the necessary plans and calculations simply by sending photos, measurements, or architectural drawings.
- Comprehensive Load Path Analysis
SECalcs engineers will analyze the whole load path, instead of only focusing on the wall being removed. They will assess how the load transfers from the roof to the foundation, in order to make sure that new supports can still maintain the structural integrity.
Conclusion
Removing a load-bearing wall is quite a big transformation for your house, but it’s also one of the most complex and even potentially dangerous projects you can take on.
The best way to ensure you end up with your desired result and reach your vision safely is by working with professional, experienced structural engineers who have a deep understanding of building codes, know how to calculate loads, and can design a support system that keeps your home safe.
The market offers a lot of different options, and it’s up to you to choose the firm that you trust to help bring your vision of an open-concept to reality, without having to compromise your or anyone else’s safety.
