Structural Alterations in Longford & the Midlands
Why Structural Work Demands an Experienced Contractor
There is no category of home renovation work where experience matters more than structural alterations. A poorly tiled kitchen floor can be redone. A badly fitted bathroom suite can be replaced. A structural alteration carried out without the right knowledge, the correct temporary support or the proper steel specification is a problem that can take years to fully manifest — and when it does, it is expensive, disruptive and potentially dangerous to fix.
Building regulations require structural design by a competent person for any works affecting structural elements. A chartered structural engineer provides the required calculations and certification. We work with qualified structural engineers on every relevant project and ensure that all structural work carried out by RPH is done to the correct specification and properly certified.
The combination of 20 years of construction experience and a 14-strong team of full-time tradespeople means we understand structural work from first principles — not just how to carry it out, but why it matters and what the consequences of getting it wrong look like.
Why Choose RPH Construction for Structural Alterations
How Much Do Structural Alterations Cost in Ireland?
The cost of structural alteration work varies considerably depending on what's involved, so rather than give you a single figure that means very little, here's a realistic breakdown by job type.
Wall removal and steel beam installation — this is the most common structural job we're called about. Removing a non-load-bearing wall costs between €300 and €1,000. For a load-bearing wall, costs rise considerably due to the need for a structural engineer's assessment and the installation of a support beam. In Ireland in 2026, a full load-bearing wall removal including structural engineer fees, temporary propping, steel beam supply and installation, blockwork, plastering and making good will typically run from €3,500 to €8,000 depending on the length of the span and the complexity of the job. Longer spans require larger, heavier steel and more involved installation. Buildme
Chimney breast removal — costs depend on whether the breast runs through one or multiple floors, whether the chimney stack above needs to be supported or removed, and the extent of making good required to floors, ceilings and walls. Budget from €2,500 upwards for a single floor removal including structural assessment and full making good.
New structural openings — creating a new door or window opening in a load-bearing wall, including lintel supply and installation, blockwork and reveal finish, typically costs from €1,500 to €4,000 depending on the size of the opening and the wall construction.
All pricing should be confirmed with a site visit. We offer free consultations and written quotes across Longford and the surrounding counties.
New Build Homes Across Longford & the Midlands
We regularly take on new build projects across County Longford and the surrounding area, including Longford Town, Edgeworthstown, Ballymahon, Granard, Lanesborough, Newtownforbes, and rural sites throughout the county. We also work across Roscommon, Westmeath, Leitrim, Cavan, Offaly, Mayo and Sligo.
If you have a site and you're at any stage of the planning process — whether you have full planning permission in place or you're still at the early thinking stage — get in touch and we'll have a conversation about what's involved.
Structural Alteration Services We Carry Out
Load-Bearing Wall Removal The most commonly requested structural alteration in Ireland. Removing the wall between a kitchen and dining room, opening up a ground floor living area or knocking through to create an open plan layout — these projects transform how a home feels and functions. But a load-bearing wall is doing exactly what the name says. Before a single block is touched, the structure above needs to be fully assessed and the correct temporary support installed. Once the wall comes down, a properly specified steel beam must go in its place to carry the load that the wall was carrying. We carry out the full process — temporary propping, wall removal, steel installation, blockwork, plastering and making good — as one complete job.
Steel Beam & RSJ Installation When load-bearing walls are removed, a steel beam — commonly called an RSJ or rolled steel joist — carries the loads from the floors and roof above. A chartered structural engineer designs the beam size based on the span and the loads it needs to carry, and the padstones or steel columns that support each end must transfer those loads safely to the foundations. We work with structural engineers across Longford and the Midlands and manage the full installation — supply of the steel, temporary works, installation, fire protection where required and all making good afterwards.
Chimney Breast Removal Redundant chimney breasts dominate rooms in older Irish homes — eating into floor space, breaking up wall runs and making furniture layouts awkward. Removing a chimney breast is structural work that needs to be approached carefully, particularly in mid-terrace or semi-detached properties where the chimney stack is shared. We assess the full situation before any work starts, carry out the removal correctly, support what remains above and make good the floor, ceiling and walls to a clean finish.
Creating New Structural Openings Adding a new door or window opening to an existing wall, widening an existing doorway or creating a pass-through between rooms — all of these require a structural lintel or beam to be installed above the new opening to carry the load of the wall above. We carry out new openings in both internal and external walls, including blockwork, lintel installation, reveal finish and making good.
Structural Repairs Cracked foundations, failed lintels, deteriorating structural walls, subsidence damage — structural repairs in older properties require an experienced eye and a careful approach. We assess what's failed and why, address the root cause rather than just the symptom, and carry out the repair to a standard that ensures the problem doesn't come back.
Underpinning Where existing foundations are failing, have moved or need to be strengthened to support an extension or additional load, underpinning deepens or widens the foundation to restore or improve its capacity. This is specialist work that demands experience and the input of a structural engineer. We carry out underpinning projects across Longford and the Midlands and work closely with engineers throughout.
Structural Building Alterations Questions Answered
The honest answer is that you often can't tell with certainty without an assessment by an experienced contractor or structural engineer. General indicators include walls that run perpendicular to the floor joists, walls positioned directly above or below other walls or beams, and walls that sit close to the centre of the house. However there are exceptions to every rule and misidentifying a load-bearing wall has serious consequences. We assess this on every site visit before any work is discussed.
In most cases no — internal structural alterations do not require planning permission in Ireland. However all structural work must comply with building regulations and in many cases a commencement notice must be submitted to the local building control authority. We'll advise you on the correct process for your specific project from the first site visit.
Yes, for any load-bearing wall removal you need a structural engineer to assess the wall, specify the correct beam size and provide the required calculations and certification. We work with structural engineers across Longford and the Midlands and include their involvement in our project management. You don't need to source one yourself.
A typical wall removal takes two to five days depending on complexity, including temporary support installation, wall removal, beam fitting and initial making good. Plastering and full decoration will add time on top of that. We give you a realistic timeline as part of your written quote.
Yes, but it requires more careful consideration than in a detached property. Where a chimney stack is shared with a neighbouring property, the work must be approached carefully to ensure the neighbour's structure is not affected. We assess all chimney breast removal projects individually and give you honest advice on what's involved before any work begins.
Call us on 087 001 1013 or fill in the contact form and we'll arrange a free site visit. We come out, assess the project properly and give you a clear written quote with no obligation.
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Planning a Structural Alteration in Longford?
Whether you want to open up your ground floor, remove a chimney breast, install a steel beam or carry out structural repairs to an older property — get in touch with RPH Construction. We'll come out, assess what's involved and give you honest, experienced advice before anything else is discussed.
More Construction Services We Offer
We offer a full range of home renovation and construction services across Longford and the Midlands. Every job is handled directly by our 14-strong team — no subcontractors, no handoffs, just one crew accountable for the whole project from start to finish.
New Builds
Building a new home from the ground up is one of life's biggest projects. We manage the full process from foundations to final handover, with no corners cut.
Kitchen Renovations
A kitchen renovation is one of the best investments you can make in your home. We design and build kitchens that are practical, hardwearing and built to last.
Bathroom Renovations
From a simple refresh to a full wet room installation — our team handles everything from plumbing to tiling to final bathroom renovation fit-out.
House Extensions
Need more space? We design and build single and double storey extensions that complement your existing home and add real value to your property.
Structural Alterations
Knocking walls, opening up spaces, structural steelwork — we handle all structural alterations with the engineering know-how to do it safely and properly.
Internal Reconfigurations
Want your home to flow differently? We reconfigure internal layouts to give you the living space that actually works for how you live.