Knock-throughs and structural steel work in Maidstone
Get the open-plan kitchen or living space you want without risking the structure of your home. We prop, remove and support walls properly, with steels installed and bedded by a qualified team.
Free site visit and written quote · City & Guilds qualified bricklayer on site
City & Guilds
Qualified bricklayer
NVQ Level 2 & 3
In Brickwork
10-yr / 5-yr
Roofing / paving guarantees
Team of 4
Plus trusted trades
24/7
Emergency roofing
Service overview
Structural Steel Work & Knock-Throughs: what you need to know
What it is
A knock-through removes all or part of a wall between rooms. Where that wall carries weight from the floors or roof above, a structural steel beam is installed to take the load. The work involves temporary propping, careful removal of brickwork, installing padstones and the steel, then making good so the opening is ready for decorating.
Who it is for
Homeowners who want to join a kitchen and dining room, open a living room into a hallway, or create a wide opening into an extension. We also form openings in commercial buildings where layouts need to change.
When you need it
When rooms feel boxed in, when you are planning an extension that needs a wide opening into the existing house, or when you are reconfiguring a property before moving in.
Why professional work matters
Removing a load-bearing wall without proper support can cause sagging floors, cracked walls or worse. The steel needs to sit on properly built bearings, and the brickwork around it needs to be made good so it carries load evenly. This is structural work, not demolition.
The risk of waiting
Why a knock-through is not a DIY job
A wall that looks simple to remove can be holding up much more than you think. These are the risks when the work is done badly.
Sagging floors and ceilings
Removing support without propping or with an undersized beam lets floors above drop and ceilings crack.
Cracks spreading upstairs
Movement from a poorly supported opening shows up as cracks in walls and around door frames on the floor above.
Crushed bearings
Steels placed on weak or poorly built bearings can crush the brickwork beneath and concentrate load where it should not be.
Costly remedial work
Putting a bad knock-through right usually means re-propping, removing finishes and starting again.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming a wall is not load-bearing without checking.
- Skipping temporary propping to save time.
- Sitting steels on existing brickwork without proper padstones.
- Hiring a team with no structural or brickwork experience.
Our process
How your structural steel work & knock-throughs job runs
Step 1
Free site visit
We look at the wall, what sits above it and how you want the space to work.
Step 2
Written quotation
A clear written quote sets out the work involved, including propping, steel installation and making good.
Step 3
Propping and removal
Temporary supports go in, then the wall is carefully taken out in a controlled way.
Step 4
Steel installation
Bearings are built, the steel is lifted into place and packed tight so it takes the load.
Step 5
Making good
Brickwork and surfaces around the opening are made good so the space is ready for finishing.
What you get
Why homeowners choose Speller
Safe, controlled work
Propping and removal are done in order, so the structure is supported at every stage.
Properly built bearings
A qualified bricklayer builds the bearings that the steel sits on.
Open-plan living
Join kitchen, dining and living areas into one space that works for how you live.
Ready for extensions
Wide openings into new extensions are formed as part of the same build.
Less mess, less risk
Dust and debris are controlled and the work is planned to limit disruption.
Clear, written price
Know the cost before work starts, with no obligation from the site visit.
In detail
Structural openings we create
Knock-throughs vary from a simple widened doorway to a full rear wall removal. Here is what is involved in the most common jobs.
Kitchen-diner knock-throughs
One option is removing the wall between kitchen and dining room to create one sociable space. These walls are often load-bearing in older Kent houses and need a steel.
Floor levels, door positions and services in the wall all need planning before work starts.
Rear wall openings for extensions
When an extension is built, the original rear wall usually comes out to join old and new. This often needs a long steel and substantial bearings, and is done once the extension is weathertight.
Planning the extension and knock-through together can help coordinate the stages of work.
Chimney breast removal
Removing a chimney breast frees up floor space but leaves the masonry above needing support. This is structural work and has to be supported correctly.
Padstones and bearings
The steel is only as good as what it sits on. We build bearings in suitable masonry or concrete padstones so the load is spread properly into the walls below.
Residential and commercial
We form openings in homes and in commercial buildings. Commercial work often means planning around business use, access and working hours, which we agree before starting.
Structural Steel Work & Knock-Throughs across Maidstone and Kent
We are based in Maidstone and carry out structural steel work & knock-throughs for homeowners and businesses across the towns and villages below, as well as wider Kent, London and the South East. Wherever you are, the process is the same: a free site visit, a written quote and the work led by Michael on site.
- Structural Steel Work & Knock-Throughs in Maidstone
- Structural Steel Work & Knock-Throughs in Bearsted
- Structural Steel Work & Knock-Throughs in Aylesford
- Structural Steel Work & Knock-Throughs in West Malling & Kings Hill
- Structural Steel Work & Knock-Throughs in Tonbridge
- Structural Steel Work & Knock-Throughs in Tunbridge Wells
- Structural Steel Work & Knock-Throughs in Sevenoaks
- Structural Steel Work & Knock-Throughs in Chatham
- Structural Steel Work & Knock-Throughs in Headcorn
Guide
Planning a knock-through
Think about the finished room
Before removing a wall, consider where kitchen units, radiators, sockets and doors will go in the new space. Services running in the wall may need rerouting, and we coordinate our trusted electricians and plumbers to do this as part of the job.
Living with the work
Knock-throughs create dust. We discuss how to protect the rest of the house, which rooms will be out of use and for how long, so you can plan around the work.
Combining with other work
Knock-throughs are often part of a bigger change, such as an extension or kitchen refit. Planning them together means the structure is done once, in the right order, before finishes go in.
Signs a wall may be load-bearing
Walls running at right angles to the floor joists above, walls that continue in the same position on the floor above, and walls that sit under a chimney or a roof support are often carrying load. Many internal walls in older Kent houses are load-bearing even when they look thin. We confirm this at the site visit before any work is planned.
What the finished opening looks like
Once the steel is in, it is boxed or plastered so it sits flush with the ceiling or as a neat bulkhead. We make good the brickwork around the bearings so the opening is ready for plastering and decoration.
How quoting and payment work
Every structural steel work & knock-throughs enquiry starts with a free, no-obligation site visit and a written quotation, so you can see exactly what is included before deciding. On larger projects we take a one-third deposit to secure materials, and the balance is split across 3 to 4 stage payments agreed before work starts.
Who will be on site
Work is led by Michael Speller, a City & Guilds qualified bricklayer with NVQ Level 2 and Level 3 in Brickwork, with a core team of four. Where your project needs electrical or plumbing work, we bring in trusted subcontracted trades and coordinate them, so you deal with one contractor throughout. We hold public liability insurance.
Questions
Structural Steel Work & Knock-Throughs FAQs
How much does a knock-through cost in Maidstone?
It depends on the wall, the size of opening and what is above it. Book a free site visit and you will get a written quote.
How long does a knock-through take?
Simple openings are relatively quick; larger openings with long steels take longer. Your written quote will include a realistic timescale.
How do I know if my wall is load-bearing?
We check this at the free site visit by looking at what sits on the wall and how the floors and roof are built.
Can you do the knock-through as part of my extension?
Yes. Forming the opening into a new extension is often done in the same programme.
How do payments work?
Larger projects use a one-third deposit, then 3 to 4 agreed stage payments.
Is the work guaranteed?
Our published guarantees are 10 years on roofing and 5 years on paving. Ask Michael about terms for structural work at your site visit.
Will there be a lot of dust?
Removing brickwork creates dust. We plan the work to contain it as far as practical and keep the rest of the house usable.
Do you cover Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks?
Yes, along with Maidstone, Bearsted, Tonbridge, wider Kent, London and the South East.
Open up your home safely
Book a free site visit and get a written quote for your knock-through or steel installation.
City & Guilds qualified · Free written quote · No obligation