Frequently asked questions

Most single-beam jobs in a typical house cost roughly £2,000 to £5,000 including VAT once calculations, building control, propping, the steel and making good are included. Wide external openings, heavy loads, flush beams and difficult access push the price up. You get a fixed written price after the survey and calculations.

Yes. Building control needs calculations showing the beam, padstones and any columns will carry the loads. A structural engineer produces them from the survey. We arrange this as part of the job, or work to calculations you already have.

Yes, in every part of the UK. In England it needs building regulations approval through a building notice or full plans application. In Wales it needs an application to building control under the Welsh regulations, which changed on 1 July 2026. Scotland requires a building warrant before work starts, and in Northern Ireland the council's building control must approve it. We handle the application.

The structural part of a typical internal wall removal takes two to five working days on site: propping, removing the wall, fitting and packing the steel. Plastering and drying follow. Calculations, approvals and any party wall notice period come before that and are planned into the timetable.

RSJ stands for rolled steel joist. It is an older name that people still use for any I-shaped steel beam. Most beams fitted in homes today are universal beams, and the engineer may also specify columns, channels or box sections depending on the job.

In England and Wales, if the beam bears into a wall you share with a neighbour, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies and a party structure notice must be served at least two months before that work starts. Scotland and Northern Ireland have no equivalent Act; title deeds and the general law apply instead.

Usually, yes. We screen off the work area, protect floors and keep the rest of the house usable. Expect noise and dust while the wall comes out and for the rooms either side of the opening to be out of action for a few days.

We work across England, Wales, mainland Scotland and Northern Ireland. Each area page lists the towns, postcode districts and building control body for that part of the country.

We look at the wall, the floor and ceiling either side, what sits above, the bearings at each end and any services in the way, and measure the opening you want. It usually takes under an hour and there is no charge.

Yes. Masonry and waste are bagged and removed as part of the job, and the work area is cleaned at the end of each day.

Often, by setting it up into the floor void so the ceiling runs flat. It needs more work to the joists above and costs more, and is not always possible. The engineer confirms whether a flush beam works for your floor.

Padstones are solid blocks, usually concrete, built into the wall under each end of the beam. They spread the concentrated load from the beam end into the masonry below.

Steel loses strength at high temperatures. Building regulations expect the structure of a home to keep standing for a set period in a fire, so beams are commonly boxed in fire-rated board or coated with intumescent paint.

If hidden conditions mean extra work, such as a missing footing or rotten timber lintel, we stop, explain it, and agree any change in writing before carrying on.

It is sensible to tell your insurer about structural alterations before they start. Keeping the calculations and the completion certificate together also helps with insurance and when you sell.

Yes. Guide prices on this site include VAT at 20%. Some conversions qualify for a reduced rate; your quote will show how VAT applies to your job.