Your scope and the work involved
How our crew handles the work
A new opening or a changed layout needs more than a demolition line on a floor plan. The load path, retained structure and responsibilities of the engineer and following trades must be clear before work is scoped.
That starts with drawings. When a wall, beam or floor section carries load, we work from an engineer's design that shows what is being removed, what replaces it and how the load is held in the meantime. We do not guess at load paths, and we will ask for the engineering before quoting if it does not exist yet.
Temporary support goes in first. Shoring posts, beams and cribbing are set to the design, checked, and left in place until the permanent member is installed and accepted. Removal and installation follow the engineered sequence, with support changes reviewed before the next stage.
Services are the other risk. Walls and floors carry wiring, plumbing, ductwork and gas lines. We confirm isolation with the relevant trades before cutting, cap or reroute where the scope calls for it, and leave everything labelled for the trades who follow.
In occupied homes and buildings we keep work areas sealed, protect finished floors and stairs, and schedule noisy cutting inside Markham's construction hours. When the opening is framed and the shoring is released, the area is cleaned and ready for the next trade.
See this kind of removal
Use the work collection to compare visible conditions with your project, then discuss the scope with us.
View this service's work collectionMarkham and wider service coverageWhat to expect
What to expect, step by step
Step 1
Review the design
We review the engineer's drawings and permit, and confirm what is removed, what replaces it and how it is supported.
Step 2
Isolate services
Electrical, plumbing, gas and HVAC in the work area are confirmed isolated by the right trades before any cutting.
Step 3
Install temporary support
Shoring is set to the design and checked before any load-bearing element is disturbed.
Step 4
Controlled removal
The structure is cut and removed in planned sections, with debris cleared continuously.
Step 5
Release and clean
Once the permanent member is in and accepted, shoring comes out and the area is cleaned for the next trade.
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Local questions
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need an engineer to remove a load-bearing wall in Markham?
- In almost every case, yes. The City of Markham requires a building permit for structural changes, and the permit drawings normally include an engineer's design for the new beam and supports. We work from that design.
- Can you tell whether a wall is load-bearing?
- We can point out the signs, such as joists landing on the wall or a wall stacked above another, but the decision belongs to an engineer. We would rather confirm it properly than assume.
- Can we stay in the house during structural work?
- Often yes, depending on where the work is and how services are affected. We seal the work area, protect the rest of the home and agree working hours with you.
- Who installs the new beam?
- That depends on your project. Some owners have a framer or GC install it, and in other projects it is coordinated as part of our scope. We confirm who does what in the written scope.
Decisions to prepare for this work
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