Building Regs to remove an arch in a kitchen??

[anders170]

Hi, Ive just moved into a house which has had an extension added to the kitchen keeping part of the original external wall in a large arch with a pillar going from floor to ceiling. Id like to swap the pillar for a couple of nice oak beams (or similar) but would I need building regs round for this?

 

[Tigercubrider]

What is the arch/pillar currently made from?
Many arches are just plasterboard and the pillar may be a steel clad in plaster or brick

 

[anders170]

Hi Im not sure! Ive put a picture of it in the question post, its plaster coated. Im guessing there is a steel beam running along the top on the ceiling.

 

[foxhole]

Could contain a steel, if so you could clad in timber instead of the plasterboard .

 

[Deleted member 174758]

There appears to be a difference in the height of the ceilings on either side of the archway. By any chance is the lower ceiling area within an extension? If so that arch is probably hiding a steel (or steels) which support a structural wall above and the masonry pillar is supporting the steel(s) in the middle. As others have said you can clad the steel(s) with timber to look like a timber beam but and structural modifications or replacements to either the joists or the masonry column will require the services of a structural engineer (to do the calcs) and possibly a visit by the BCO