Kitchen Structural Modifications Mansfield
At Kudos Kitchens, we don't just fit cupboards and worktops. We change how homes work. Kitchen walls coming down. New doorways going in. Beams fitted to hold everything up safe. All done by our team who know what they're doing. That's what we mean by being Nottinghamshire's premier kitchen fitting contractor.
Michael here. Me and Emma started Kudos Kitchens because we saw people getting bad work done on their homes. When you're taking walls down or changing the bones of your kitchen, you need someone who knows what they're doing. That's us.
Kitchen Structural Work - More Than Just Cabinets
Kitchens aren't just about nice cupboards and worktops. Sometimes you need big changes to make your dream kitchen happen. Taking down walls to get more space. Making doorways bigger. Putting in new windows. This is proper building work, not just decoration.
We do this stuff every day in homes around Mansfield, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Newark, and all the places nearby. These jobs need proper know-how. You can't just knock a wall down and hope for the best! It might be holding your house up.
This is what makes Kudos Kitchens different. We know how to check if walls are important for holding up your house. We know how to put in the right supports if they are. And we do it all proper, with the right paperwork so you don't get in trouble with building rules.
Emma always says to customers: "We never guess about walls. We always check properly first." That's kept us out of trouble for the 3 years we've been helping people in Mansfield and around.
Types of Kitchen Structural Changes We Do
Wall Removal for Open-Plan Spaces
Most people want their kitchen, dining room and living room all joined up nowadays. That means taking walls down. We've done this in loads of homes in Mansfield, Sutton-in-Ashfield and Kirkby-in-Ashfield.
Like for Dianne in Mansfield who said: "This small company in Mansfield Nottinghamshire transformed our kitchen in five days from a dreary old style workplace into a stunning 21st century kitchen." We took down the wall between her kitchen and dining room to make one big space.
We handle everything:
- Checking if the wall holds up your house
- Getting proper calculations done
- Sorting the building regs paperwork
- Putting in steel beams to hold everything up
- Making good after so it looks like the wall was never there
Support Beam Installation
When we take out walls that hold up your house, we have to put in special steel beams called RSJs. These are super strong and hold up all the weight above.
We've put in beams in all kinds of houses - old Victorian terraces in Mansfield town centre, newer homes in Forest Town, big detached houses in Ravenshead. Each one needs different size beams and supports depending on what's above and how the house is built.
Andy, our electrician, always has to move electrics when we put beams in. He's brilliant at making sure all the wires get rerouted safely.
Doorway Widening and New Openings
Sometimes we don't take out whole walls, just make openings bigger or put in new doors or archways. This is still structural work if the wall is holding something up.
We did this for Florence who said: "I needed more storage in my kitchen and contacted Kudos kitchen. There wasn't much space left in the kitchen but they made more storage." We made a wider opening to her dining room which let us fit more units and made the space feel bigger.
Window Changes
Changing windows in kitchens is common. People want bigger windows for more light or to see the garden better. Or they want patio doors where a normal window used to be.
This nearly always needs structural work because windows and doors need proper support above them. We put in special lintels (strong beams) to hold up the wall above.
Ceiling Work
Sometimes ceiling joists need strengthening, especially if you're putting in heavy things like ceiling extractors. Or you might want to raise a ceiling to make a kitchen feel bigger.
We work with proper structural engineers who tell us exactly what we need to do to make sure your ceiling stays up!
How We Check What Needs Doing
Before we start knocking anything down, we need to know what we're dealing with. You can't just guess with structural stuff or your house might fall down!
Finding Load-Bearing WallsWe have a proper process for checking if walls are holding up your house (load-bearing):
If we're not 100% sure, we get a structural engineer in. Better safe than sorry! |
Working With Structural EngineersFor big jobs, we always work with qualified structural engineers. They do calculations to work out what size beams and supports are needed. We've got good relationships with engineers in the Mansfield area who know the types of houses around here. They can usually turn calculations around in a week or two. |
Building Regs and Planning PermissionNearly all structural work needs Building Regulations approval. This is different from planning permission. Building Regs make sure the work is safe. We sort all this for you. We notify the council, arrange inspections, and make sure everything is approved. When the job's done, you get proper certificates proving everything was done legally. Most kitchen structural work doesn't need planning permission, but we check this for you too. If your house is listed or in a conservation area (like parts of Mansfield town centre), you might need special permission. |
How We Put in Supports
When we take out walls or make big openings, we have to put in proper supports to hold everything up.
Steel Beam InstallationThe most common support is an RSJ (Rolled Steel Joist). These are super strong steel beams that hold up the weight above where a wall used to be. Each one is calculated exactly for your house. They come in different sizes depending on how much weight they need to hold and how far they span. We've put in beams up to 5 metres long in houses around Mansfield. They're heavy - sometimes taking 4 or 5 people to lift into place. |
Timber and Steel SupportsAs well as the main beam, we often need to put in other supports:
It's all a bit like a jigsaw puzzle, with each piece doing an important job to keep your house standing strong. |
Foundation ChecksSometimes we need to check the foundations of your house can take the new supports. Old houses in places like Mansfield Woodhouse sometimes need foundation work before we can safely remove walls. |
Floor StrengtheningIf we're putting heavy things in your kitchen, like stone islands or big range cookers, we might need to strengthen the floor. This is especially true in older houses with wooden floors. |
How We Do Structural Work - Our Process
Protecting Your Home
First, we protect the rest of your house. Dust sheets everywhere. Plastic sheeting to stop dust getting everywhere. Covering floors with boards.
We're really careful about this. Emma always checks this has been done properly before any work starts.
Taking Down Walls Safely
We don't just smash walls down! We do it carefully, bit by bit.
- Turn off electrics and remove any wires in the wall
- Put up temporary supports if needed
- Remove plaster first to see what's inside the wall
- Take bricks/blocks out carefully
- Put permanent supports in as we go
Putting in Support Beams
Fitting beams is skilled work. We've done it dozens of times in homes all around Mansfield, Ashfield, and Newark areas.
We usually:
- Make holes in the wall for the beam ends
- Get the beam into position (the hard bit!)
- Pack around it with slate or steel shims
- Check it's level and in the right place
- Build the wall back up around it
Managing Dust and Mess
Let's be honest - structural work is messy! But we try to keep it under control.
We use special vacuums that suck up dust as we work. We close doors to other rooms and seal them with tape if needed. And we clean up every day before we leave.
Making Good Afterwards
Once the structural work is done, we make everything look good again:
- Plastering around new beams
- Making sure the ceiling is smooth
- Fixing any floor damage
- Getting everything ready for decorating
Following the Rules - Building Regulations
Notifying Building ControlBy law, you need to tell the council about structural work. We sort this for you through what's called a Building Notice. We work with Mansfield District Council, Newark and Sherwood District Council, and Ashfield District Council depending where you live. |
Getting Proper CalculationsFor structural work, we need proper calculations from a qualified engineer. These show what size beams and supports are needed. We make sure these calculations are done right. They cost a bit extra (usually £250-£500) but they're essential for safety and legal reasons. |
Having InspectionsThe Building Control officer will need to inspect the work, usually:
We arrange all these inspections for you. Johno, one of our installers, usually meets the inspector on site. |
Getting CertificatesWhen the job is done and approved, you get a completion certificate from the council. This is really important - you'll need it if you ever sell your house. We keep copies of all this paperwork for you too, just in case. |
Real Examples of Structural Work We've Done
Opening Up a Mansfield Home
We helped Miles in Mansfield who said: "Great experience from start to finish. A hidden gem of kitchen fitting company."
We knocked through between his kitchen and dining room, putting in a 3.6m steel beam to support the bedroom above. Now he's got a massive open-plan space where his family spends all their time.
Creating Space in a Tight Kitchen
Florence from Mansfield had a very small kitchen. She said: "I needed more storage in my kitchen and contacted Kudos kitchen. There wasn't much space left in the kitchen but they made more storage."
We widened a doorway into her utility room and put in a proper lintel. This let us fit more units and made the kitchen feel twice as big.
Overcoming Problems in an Old House
We worked on a 1900s house in Woodhouse where the walls weren't straight and nothing was standard. We had to use special adjustable steel supports that could be tweaked to fit the wonky walls.
The owner, Paul, was really happy, saying: "Lovely family run business supplied me LVT flooring really impressed with the quality!" (We did his flooring too after fixing his kitchen structure.)
Questions People Ask Us About Structural Work
How much does it cost to remove a wall between kitchen and dining room?
This depends on the wall and your house, but typically varies by:
- Non-load bearing wall type
- Load-bearing wall type
The price includes checking the wall, getting calculations, notifying building control, removing the wall, putting in supports, and making good after.
Do I need planning permission for kitchen structural changes?
Usually no. Most internal structural work is covered under Permitted Development rights. You definitely need Building Regulations approval though.
Exceptions are:
- If your house is listed
- If you live in a conservation area and it affects the outside
- If you're extending your house at the same time
We check all this for you and tell you what's needed.
How do I know if a wall is load bearing in my kitchen?
You can't always tell just by looking. A few clues are:
- Walls that run parallel to the roof ridge are often load-bearing
- Walls that have joists ending on them usually are load-bearing
- Walls that line up with walls above or below often are load-bearing
But the only way to be 100% sure is to get a pro to check. That's why we always do a proper survey first.
How long do kitchen structural modifications take?
Depends on the job, but roughly:
- Removing a non-load bearing wall: 1-2 days
- Removing a load-bearing wall and fitting a beam: 3-5 days
- Full kitchen knockthrough with multiple walls: 7-10 days
This is just the structural part, not the whole kitchen fitting.
Can any wall be removed in a kitchen?
No. Some walls definitely can't be removed because they're too important for holding up your house. Others can be removed but need expensive steel frames to replace them.
We always check what's possible in your specific house. If a wall can't be removed, we often find other solutions like wider doorways or partial openings.
Ready to Change Your Kitchen Structure?
If you're thinking about opening up your kitchen or making other big changes, we'd love to help. We'll come and check what's possible and give you honest advice.
Kitchen Renovation Financing
We understand that kitchen renovation can be a significant investment. That's why we've partnered with Dopple to offer flexible financing options:
- Spread the cost over 12-36 months
- 0% interest options available
- Quick approval process
- No deposit required on selected offers
As Emma always says, "Good stone worktops will last 25+ years - that's less than a pound a week when you break it down!"
