Wider doorways & openings · Shepherds Bush
Wider doorways & openings in Shepherds Bush
Wider doorways & openings in Shepherds Bush, from free survey to completion certificate.
- Free survey visit in Shepherds Bush
- Engineer's calculations arranged
- Building control handled for you
- Free survey visit
- Engineer's calculations arranged
- Building control handled
- Fixed written price once scope is agreed
- England, Wales, mainland Scotland & NI
Wider doorways & openings in Shepherds Bush: how it works
Need wider doorways & openings in Shepherds Bush? We also cover the surrounding towns and villages in London. We survey the property, arrange the engineer's design, deal with local building control, fit the steel and make good, all under one quote for SW5, W6, W8, W9 and W10 addresses.
We arrange a survey visit, structural calculations where the wall is load-bearing, building control, propping, the lintel or beam, new door linings if you want them, and making good. One itemised written quote covers the lot, and the price is fixed in writing once the opening size and finish are agreed.
What to expect
- When an opening widens, the old threshold strip and floor finishes often stop short. Carpet, boards or tiles need joining neatly across the new width, and a change in floor height between rooms may need a threshold bar or a gentle ramp.
- Widening a single doorway in a load-bearing wall usually takes one to two days for the structural work. The plaster then needs time to dry before the door linings are decorated or a new door is hung.
- In hallways, a new or wider opening into the living room can affect the protected route from the stairs to the front door. Building control may require fire doors, smoke alarms or other measures, especially in houses with three or more storeys.
- The main cost factors are whether the wall is structural, the width of the opening, what the support bears onto, how much electrical or heating work has to move, and whether you want new door linings and doors fitted as part of the job.
- Widening doorways is a frequent adaptation for wheelchair users and people using walking frames. Where a council grant or adaptation scheme is helping to pay, check its requirements for clear opening width before the opening is designed.
What happens, step by step
Free visit
A short visit to Shepherds Bush to see the job, agree what you want and check the bearings, floors and services that affect the design.
Calculations
The engineer's calculations and a simple drawing are prepared for your opening and shared with you before anything is ordered.
Building control
We submit a building notice or full plans application to the local council's building control team, so approval is in place before the wall is touched.
Steel in, made good
On site we prop, open up, fit and pack the steel, then fire protect, box in and plaster once the inspection is done.
How much should I budget in Shepherds Bush?
As a guide, budget £1,300–£3,200 including VAT for widening an internal doorway in Shepherds Bush, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for London prices (+28%).
| Job | Typical guide range | What it usually covers |
|---|---|---|
| Widening an internal doorway | £1,300–£3,200 | Opening widened with a new lintel or short beam, approval where structural, and making good |
| Structural calculations for a beam | £320–£960 | Site measure or photos, beam and padstone design and calculations for building control |
| RSJ supply and fit (single beam) | £1,000–£3,200 per beam | Beam supplied, delivered, lifted and packed on padstones, with propping (calculations and approval priced separately) |
| Lintel replacement | £510–£1,540 per lintel | Propping, removing the old lintel, new lintel set on beds and brickwork made good |
Figures include our approximate regional adjustment for London prices (+28%) and are rounded. How these figures are worked out.
Building rules for Shepherds Bush
Structural openings in English homes need building regulations approval before work starts. The local council's building control team can deal with it, or you can use a registered building control approver. Either way the steel is inspected before it is covered, and a completion certificate is issued at the end. Keep it safe for when you sell.
If the beam bears into a wall you share with a neighbour, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies, and a party structure notice must be served at least two months before that work starts. We arrange this through a party wall surveyor.
Local questions answered
Can I stay at home while the work is done in Shepherds Bush?
Usually, yes. The work area is screened and floors are protected. The rooms either side of the opening are out of action for a few days, and there is some noise and dust while the masonry comes out.
Do you cover Shepherds Bush for wider doorways & openings?
Yes. We carry out wider doorways & openings in Shepherds Bush and the SW5, W6, W8, W9 and W10 postcode districts. Book a free survey visit and we will check the wall, arrange the engineer's calculations and send an itemised written quote.
How wide can I make a doorway?
That depends on the wall, what it carries and how much solid wall is left at each side for the support to bear on, and a structural engineer sets the limit. Many people go from a single door to a double-width opening, and beyond that the job starts to become a partial wall removal.
Is a lintel or a steel beam needed for a wider door?
It depends on the loads. A lintel can be enough for a modest widening under light loads, while an opening carrying floor joists or a wall above usually needs steel. The engineer decides from the actual loads and span rather than the width alone, and we fit whichever is specified.
Can a doorway be widened for wheelchair access?
Yes, and it is one of the most practical home adaptations. The opening is sized for the clear width needed, allowing for the door, lining and door stops. If a council grant or occupational therapist is involved, share their requirements with us so the opening is designed to meet them first time.
How much do wider doorways & openings cost in Shepherds Bush?
As a guide, budget £1,300–£3,200 including VAT for widening an internal doorway in Shepherds Bush, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for London prices (+28%). The exact figure depends on the span, what the wall carries, access and the finish, and is fixed in writing once the scope is agreed.