General Building Works in Sheffield, Alterations, Structural Work & Repairs
From removing a wall to rebuilding brickwork, get building work done properly by a builder with 45 years in the trade, guaranteed for 6 years.
45 Years
Hands-on trade experience
6-Year
Guarantee on building work
£1m
Public liability insurance
Free
Site visit & written quote
Stage
Payments as work completes
General Building Works
Building work that doesn't fit a single category
Not every job is an extension or a new kitchen. General building works cover the alterations, structural changes and repairs homes need over their lifetime.
That includes knocking through walls, installing steel beams, building or rebuilding walls, forming new openings for doors and windows, repairing brickwork and carrying out alterations ahead of other improvements.
These jobs are often small in footprint but significant structurally. Removing the wrong wall without support, or forming an opening without a correctly sized lintel, can cause cracking or worse.
Garry brings 45 years of experience to every job, works with structural engineers where calculations are needed, and coordinates building control approval for notifiable work.
Don't leave it to chance
The risk of leaving building problems, or cutting corners
Building defects rarely stay small.
Cracks that keep growing
Movement from failed lintels or poor previous alterations gets worse over time and becomes more costly to fix.
Unsupported openings
Walls removed without a proper beam can cause sagging floors and cracked ceilings above.
Damp from failed brickwork
Eroded mortar and damaged bricks let water into walls, damaging plaster and decoration inside.
No approval for structural work
Unapproved alterations can be flagged at sale and need retrospective inspection.
Common mistake: hiring a handyman for structural jobs
Load-bearing work needs proper calculations and an experienced builder, not just a quick fix.
Our process
How your general building works project runs
- 1
Free site visit
Garry looks at the problem or the change you want and explains what's involved.
- 2
Engineering and approvals
Structural calculations and building control notification where required.
- 3
Detailed quotation
A clear written quote for the agreed scope.
- 4
The work
Temporary support, structural work, brickwork and making good, carried out in the right order.
- 5
Sign-off and guarantee
Building control approval where needed and a 6-year guarantee on the building work.
What you get
The result, not just the work
Done safely
Structural work supported and engineered correctly.
Approved where required
Notifiable work managed through building control.
Made good properly
Plastering and finishes so the job looks finished.
Experience that spots problems
45 years in the trade means underlying causes get found, not just covered.
Straightforward pricing
Bespoke written quote with staged payments on larger jobs.
6-year guarantee
Backed by £1m public liability insurance.
In detail
Types of general building work we carry out
Here are some of the most common jobs.
Knocking through and removing walls
Creating open-plan space by removing internal walls. Load-bearing walls need a steel beam or lintel designed by a structural engineer, installed with temporary support and inspected by building control.
Forming new openings
New doorways, windows or patio door openings need correctly sized lintels and careful brickwork so the opening is strong and neat.
Brickwork and repointing
Rebuilding damaged walls, garden walls and chimneys, and repointing eroded mortar joints to keep water out.
Alterations before other work
Many jobs, such as new kitchens or bathrooms, need building alterations first. Having one builder do both avoids gaps between trades.
Repairs to older properties
Older Sheffield homes can need lintel replacement, crack repairs and work to failed previous alterations. Experience with traditional construction matters here.
Residential focus
GT Travis Builders is a residential building contractor. Our general building work is carried out on homes across Sheffield and the surrounding areas.
Removing chimney breasts
Taking out a chimney breast can free up useful floor space in a kitchen or bedroom. The masonry above must still be supported, usually with a steel beam or gallows brackets approved by building control. On semi-detached and terraced homes the party wall is also affected, so neighbours need to be notified in advance.
Preparing for an extension or conversion
General building works are often the first stage of a bigger plan: removing a chimney breast, forming an opening into a future extension or strengthening a structure before a loft conversion. Planning these with the bigger project in mind avoids having to undo work later.
Building control for alterations
Structural alterations, new openings and some repairs are notifiable under building regulations. The building control officer inspects key stages, such as the installed steel, before it is covered up. Garry arranges these inspections as part of the job.
Steel beams and lintels
Steel beams carry the load of walls and floors above an opening. They're sized by a structural engineer and sit on padstones that spread the load into the walls below. Lintels do the same job over smaller openings like doors and windows. Getting both right is what keeps the building above stable.
Temporary support
Before a load-bearing wall is removed, the structure above is supported with props and needles while the new steel goes in. It's careful, methodical work, and it's where experience matters most.
Cracks: what they mean
Hairline cracks in plaster are often just shrinkage. Stepped cracks in brickwork, cracks above openings or cracks that keep widening can point to failed lintels or movement. Garry will look at the pattern and explain what it means before recommending a repair.
Chimneys and garden walls
Chimney stacks and garden walls are exposed to the weather on every side and often need repointing or partial rebuilding. Leaving them can lead to loose bricks, water getting into the house or walls becoming unsafe.
Making good
Every structural job ends with making good: plastering, patching floors and tidying brickwork. It's the difference between a job that looks finished and one that leaves you calling another trade.
Working with Garry on your general building works
When you contact GT Travis Builders about general building works, you speak to Garry Travis, the builder who will run the job. He has 45 years of hands-on experience in the trade, and he'll visit your home free of charge to look at the work in person rather than quoting from a phone call.
After the visit you get a detailed written quotation. Pricing is bespoke to your property, with no set packages, so you're only paying for what your home actually needs. Payments are made in stages as the work progresses, which means your money follows completed work.
If drawings or structural calculations are needed, Garry works with trusted architects and structural engineers. If you already have plans, he builds to them. Where building regulations apply, he coordinates with building control officers throughout and manages the job through to final sign-off.
Before any work starts, Garry explains the order the job will run in, what will happen on each stage, and what you'll need to do, such as clearing rooms or choosing finishes, so there are no surprises once work begins. If anything unexpected is found once the job is underway, he explains it and the options before any extra work goes ahead.
All building work carries a 6-year guarantee, and GT Travis Builders Ltd holds £1,000,000 public liability insurance. We're based in Basegreen, Sheffield, and carry out general building works across Sheffield, Chesterfield, Rotherham, Mosborough, Ecclesall, Dore, Dronfield, Staveley, Wickersley.
Before you hire anyone for general building works
Get a written, itemised quote. A proper quote for general building works lists what's included, preparation, materials, making good and removal of waste, so there are no surprise extras later.
Ask who will be doing the work. Know who is responsible on site and who you call if something isn't right. With GT Travis Builders, that's Garry.
Check the guarantee and insurance. Ask how long the work is guaranteed for and whether the builder holds public liability insurance. Ours: 6 years, and £1m cover.
Agree how payments work. Avoid paying large sums up front. Stage payments linked to completed work protect you throughout the job.
Confirm who handles approvals. If building regulations or planning apply, agree who deals with them and who obtains the completion certificate.
Related services
General Building Works near you
Questions
General Building Works: frequently asked questions
Free site visit · Free quote
Get your building work done properly, and signed off.
Garry will visit, look at the job properly and give you a detailed written quote, no obligation. Every job comes with a 6-year guarantee and £1m public liability insurance.
