Building Alterations Durban: Professional Structural Changes That Transform Your Property

Without a professional assessment, you can’t know for certain. Some indicators suggest load-bearing walls—walls running perpendicular to floor or ceiling joists, walls directly below other walls on upper floors, walls near the centre of buildings, or particularly thick walls. However, these are guidelines only. We assess walls properly during consultations, and for significant alterations, structural engineers provide definitive assessments. Never remove walls without professional confirmation that they’re non-structural.

Most structural alterations require building plan approval, particularly removing or significantly modifying load-bearing elements, creating new door or window openings in external walls, altering roof structures, or converting spaces to different uses (like garages to living areas). Relatively minor internal changes to non-structural walls might not require approval, but it’s always safer to check. We advise you during consultations whether your specific alteration needs council submission.

Simple alterations like creating a doorway might take one to two weeks, including finishing. Removing walls to create open-plan spaces typically takes two to three weeks. Complex alterations involving multiple changes or roof work can take four to six weeks. These timeframes don’t include council approval periods, which add another four to eight weeks before construction starts. We provide realistic schedules when quoting your project.

Yes, most homeowners remain in their homes during building alterations. You’ll experience noise, dust, and disruption, particularly during demolition phases. We work to contain the mess, protect the unaffected areas, and minimise inconvenience. If alterations affect your only bathroom or kitchen, you might want alternative arrangements during those specific phases. We discuss this during planning so you can prepare appropriately.

Opening up structures sometimes reveals hidden issues—termite damage, previous poor repairs, inadequate existing supports, or problems with foundations. When this happens, we stop work in affected areas, document what we’ve found, explain the problem and implications, provide costs for necessary remedial work, and wait for your authorisation before proceeding. We never just fix problems and present unexpected bills.

Properly executed, approved alterations typically add value, especially those creating open-plan living or improving functionality. However, unapproved alterations can cause serious problems when selling—attorneys check building compliance, and undocumented structural work raises red flags. This is why we insist on proper approvals and provide all documentation. Legal, professionally completed alterations add value and make properties easier to sell.

Yes, we make considerable effort to match existing bricks, plaster finishes, paint colours, and architectural details. For older homes where exact matches aren’t available, we find the closest alternatives or suggest complementary approaches that work aesthetically. Matching finishes separates professional alterations from obvious add-ons. We understand this matters enormously to homeowners and take time to get it right.

Structural work carries inherent risks despite careful planning. If cracks develop, unexpected settlement occurs, or other issues arise during construction, we have procedures to address problems immediately. This includes installing additional temporary support, bringing in engineers for emergency assessment if needed, and implementing solutions to stabilise structures. Our public liability insurance provides additional protection. In fourteen years, serious incidents have been extremely rare because we plan carefully and work methodically.