Steel BeamInstallers
Rear extension under construction with a steel beam over the opening into the house

Rear extension steels · Anglesey

Rear extension steels in Anglesey

Survey, engineer's design and installation of rear extension steels anywhere in Anglesey.

  • Free survey visit in Anglesey
  • Engineer's calculations arranged
  • Building control handled for you

Free survey in Anglesey

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  • Free survey visit
  • Engineer's calculations arranged
  • Building control handled
  • Fixed written price once scope is agreed
  • England, Wales, mainland Scotland & NI

Rear extension steels in Anglesey: how it works

Rear extension steels are the beams, columns and frames that let the original back wall of a house be opened up into a new extension. Sized by a structural engineer, they pick up the floor, wall and roof loads that the old wall carried and pass them into bearings or foundations, so the new and old spaces join as one open room.

Rear extension steels are one of the most common structural jobs in homes across Anglesey. We work in Menai Bridge, Llangefni and Holyhead and the surrounding villages. Every job starts with a survey visit, then calculations from a structural engineer, so the steel suits the house in front of us rather than a rule of thumb.

Key points for your project

  • The original rear wall of most houses is load-bearing because it supports first-floor joists and the bedroom wall above. Even where the joists run parallel to it, the masonry overhead still needs carrying, so steel is almost always part of opening it up.
  • In older houses the rear wall may be solid brick in lime mortar, with timber lintels and shallow footings beneath. The engineer may ask for trial holes to see what the wall stands on before deciding where the steel will bear.
  • Two-storey rear extensions add a second level of loads to think about. Steels at first-floor level may carry the existing rear wall of the bedrooms or tie the new roof into the old one, so the engineer looks at both floors together.
  • Soil stacks, waste pipes, boiler flues and gas meters are often fixed to the back wall. These are moved before the wall opens, and any work on gas pipework must by law be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
  • Opening the rear wall is usually the dustiest stage of an extension project. The work face is sheeted off from the rest of the house, and the kitchen is often out of use for a few days while the opening is formed and the steel goes in.

How the job runs in Anglesey

  1. Survey in Anglesey

    We visit, look at the wall and what sits above it, measure the opening and note services, access and how the steel can be brought in.

  2. Engineer's design

    A structural engineer sizes the beam, padstones and any posts, and sets out the temporary support needed while the wall is out.

  3. Building control

    We submit the application or notice to Isle of Anglesey County Council under the Building Regulations as they apply in Wales, before work starts.

  4. Install and sign-off

    Props go in, the opening is formed, the steel is set and packed, building control inspects it, and we make good.

How much should I budget in Anglesey?

As a guide, budget £2,300–£6,350 including VAT for opening into a rear extension in Anglesey, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for prices in Wales (-9%).

JobTypical guide rangeWhat it usually covers
Opening into a rear extension£2,300–£6,350Original rear wall removed with a beam or goalpost, approvals and propping, coordinated with the extension build
Structural calculations for a beam£230–£680Site measure or photos, beam and padstone design and calculations for building control
Rear wall opening for bi-fold or sliding doors£2,300–£6,350External wall opened up to about 5 m with steel, propping, cavity tray and making good (doors supplied separately)
Steel column or post£460–£1,360 per columnColumn supplied and fitted with base and cap plates on a pad foundation

Figures include our approximate regional adjustment for prices in Wales (-9%) and are rounded. How these figures are worked out.

Approvals in Anglesey

Removing a load-bearing wall in Wales needs approval under the Welsh building regulations before work starts. For Anglesey the application goes to Isle of Anglesey County Council or a registered building control approver, with the engineer's calculations, and a completion certificate follows the final inspection.

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies in Wales as well as England, so a beam bearing into a shared wall needs a party structure notice at least two months before work starts. We arrange notices through a party wall surveyor.

Building rules in Wales

Rear extension steels by town

Questions about rear extension steels in Anglesey

Can I stay at home while the work is done in Anglesey?

Usually, yes. The work area is screened and floors are protected. The rooms either side of the opening are out of action for a few days, and there is some noise and dust while the masonry comes out.

What happens at the survey visit in Anglesey?

We look at the wall, the floor and ceiling either side and what sits above, measure the opening you want, and note cables, pipes and access for the steel. It usually takes under an hour and there is no charge.

Is the steel included in the extension's building regulations?

Yes. The steelwork is part of the extension, so the engineer's calculations go to building control with the extension application and the steel is inspected before it is covered. The completion certificate issued for the extension then covers the structural work to the rear wall.

Who designs the steels for a rear extension?

A structural engineer. Your architect's drawings show the layout, but the engineer calculates the beams, columns, connections and foundations. We arrange those calculations, or work from an engineer's design you already have, and make sure the details suit the builder's programme.

When does the back wall come out during an extension build?

Usually once the extension walls and roof are up and the new space is weathertight. That keeps the house secure and dry while the opening is formed. The steel goes in, building control inspects it, and the builder then carries the floors and ceilings through.

Do I need a steel beam for my rear extension?

If the original back wall is being opened up into the extension, almost certainly yes. That wall normally carries the first floor and the wall above, so a beam, columns or a goalpost frame takes over the job. A structural engineer confirms exactly what is needed once the opening width and loads are known.

How soon can rear extension steels start in Anglesey?

Start dates depend on the engineer's calculations, the building control approval and, where needed, party wall notice periods. We give you a realistic timetable after the survey and keep you updated as each approval comes through.

Planning to take a wall out?

Book a free survey visit. You get an itemised written quote covering calculations, building control, steel and making good.