STEEL BEAMS & KNOCK-THROUGHS · DARLINGTON, NEWTON AYCLIFFE, MIDDLESBROUGH & BISHOP AUCKLAND
Steel beams and knock-throughs
in Darlington.
Turn two small rooms into one open-plan space, without the cost and upheaval of moving house.
Peaks Construction Services removes load-bearing walls and installs steel beams for homes across Darlington, Newton Aycliffe, Middlesbrough and Bishop Auckland, then makes the room good with new ceilings, floors and skirting.
WHAT THE JOB INVOLVES
Opening up,
safely.
Knocking through is one of the most popular changes to a home, usually joining a kitchen and dining room or a front and back room. When the wall is load-bearing, the weight it carries has to be supported while it comes out and then carried by a new steel beam.
A knock-through usually includes:
- Temporary supports to hold the structure while the wall is removed
- Taking out the wall and clearing the rubble
- Padstones and a steel beam sized by a structural engineer
- Fire protection to the steel where required
- New plasterboard, ceilings and joined-up flooring
- Skirting, architrave and door linings to finish
Related: Renovations · Kitchen extensions · Doors & joinery
HOW PEAKS RUNS IT
Step by step,
one team.
You deal with Danny from the first visit to the final snag
How your project runs
- Site visitDanny looks at the wall, what sits above it and how you want the room to work, and talks through the options.
- Drawings & engineerWe coordinate the structural engineer’s calculations for the steel. Planning permission is not usually needed for internal walls, but Danny will check.
- Building ControlWe arrange Building Regulations approval and book the inspections at the right stages.
- The buildSupports go in, the wall comes out, then the padstones and steel are fitted, with dust kept down as far as possible.
- Finishing joineryCeilings and walls made good, floors joined through, then skirting, architrave and linings fitted.
WHAT AFFECTS THE COST
Every job
is priced on its own.
Danny gives you a clear written quote after the site visit. These are the main things that change the price of a knock-through.
- 01
Width of the opening
A wider opening usually needs a larger steel and more temporary support.
- 02
What the wall carries
Walls supporting upper floors, chimney breasts or the roof need more careful support and design.
- 03
Services in the wall
Pipes, cables and radiators may need moving before the wall can come out.
- 04
Making good
New ceilings, flooring to join the two rooms, and the joinery and decoration you want.
PLANNING & BUILDING REGULATIONS
The rules,
checked first.
Removing an internal wall does not usually need planning permission, although listed buildings and some properties have extra controls. Danny will check, and you can find general guidance on the Planning Portal.
Building Regulations approval is needed for a structural opening with a steel beam, and the steel must be backed by a structural engineer’s calculations. If the beam sits on a wall shared with a neighbour, the Party Wall Act may also apply.
HOW LONG IT TAKES
Realistic
timescales.
The structural part of a knock-through is often done in a matter of days. Making good, flooring and joinery take longer, and the engineer’s calculations and Building Control need to be in place before the wall comes out.
Peaks Construction Services has been trading since 2024, and Danny has 7 years in the trade. He is fully insured, an FMB member, DBS checked, a CSCS card holder and 5-star rated on Google.
QUESTIONS WE GET ASKED
Steel beam questions,
answered.
Something else on your mind? Ask Danny when he comes out to look at the job.
- 01
How do I know if a wall is load-bearing?
Danny will look at the wall and what sits above it. A structural engineer confirms it and designs the steel.
- 02
Do I need planning permission to knock through?
Usually not for an internal wall, but you will need Building Regulations approval. Danny will check your house.
- 03
Will it be very messy?
Removing a wall is dusty work. We protect floors, seal off rooms where we can and keep the site tidy.
- 04
Do you make the room good afterwards?
Yes. Ceilings, floors, skirting and door linings are finished by the same team.
Planning a knock-through in Darlington, Newton Aycliffe, Middlesbrough or Bishop Auckland? Send Danny photos of the rooms and the wall you’d like to open up.
Get a free quote ↗LET’S MAKE IT HAPPEN
Something in mind?
Let’s talk.
Planning a knock-through or steel beam? Tell Danny a little about the house and where you’re based.
A few photos of the space are a good place to start.