Rear extension steels · Portrush
Rear extension steels in Portrush
Rear extension steels for homes in BT55, BT56, designed by a structural engineer.
- Itemised written quote
- Beam sized by a structural engineer
- Covering Portrush and nearby
- 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 Portrush: how it works
Portrush has a mix of housing, and rear extension steels need a slightly different approach in each. We also cover the surrounding towns and villages in Causeway Coast and Glens. Whatever the age of the property, the steel goes in on proper bearings with temporary support in place throughout.
Building a rear extension is only half of the open-plan result. The original back wall still holds up the first floor and the rear wall of the bedrooms above, so opening it needs steel. Depending on the width and what is left to bear on, that could be a single beam on padstones, a beam on columns, or a full goalpost frame.
Things to plan for
- The building control completion certificate for the extension covers the steelwork to the old rear wall. Keep it with the engineer's calculations and drawings, as a buyer's solicitor will expect to see the structural paperwork for the extension.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Columns carry concentrated loads, so each normally sits on a pad foundation designed by the engineer. Digging these inside an existing kitchen or through a solid concrete floor takes planning, especially where drains run close to the back wall.
From survey to sign-off in Portrush
Free visit
A short visit to Portrush to see the job, agree what you want and check the bearings, floors and services that affect the design.
Calculations
The engineer's calculations and a simple drawing are prepared for your opening and shared with you before anything is ordered.
Building control
A full plans application or building notice goes to Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council under the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 before work begins.
Steel in, made good
On site we prop, open up, fit and pack the steel, then fire protect, box in and plaster once the inspection is done.
What do rear extension steels cost in Portrush?
As a guide, budget £2,150–£6,000 including VAT for opening into a rear extension in Portrush, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for prices in Northern Ireland (-14%).
| Job | Typical guide range | What it usually covers |
|---|---|---|
| Opening into a rear extension | £2,150–£6,000 | Original rear wall removed with a beam or goalpost, approvals and propping, coordinated with the extension build |
| Rear wall opening for bi-fold or sliding doors | £2,150–£6,000 | External wall opened up to about 5 m with steel, propping, cavity tray and making good (doors supplied separately) |
| Steel goalpost frame | £1,700–£5,150 | Two posts and a beam bolted as a frame, pad foundations, base plates and fitting |
Figures include our approximate regional adjustment for prices in Northern Ireland (-14%) and are rounded. How these figures are worked out.
Approvals in Portrush
In Northern Ireland, structural work comes under the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and is approved by the local council's building control. For Portrush that is Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. We submit a full plans application or building notice before work starts and book the inspections.
Northern Ireland has no Party Wall Act, so there is no statutory notice to serve. Where the steel bears into a shared wall, the title deeds and the general law apply, and agreeing the work with your neighbour in writing first is good practice.
Rear extension steels near Portrush
- Coleraine 5.0 mi
- Ballymoney 10.9 mi
- Ballycastle 15.9 mi
- Limavady 15.9 mi
Local questions answered
Do you also work near Portrush?
Yes. We also cover nearby towns including Coleraine, Ballymoney, Ballycastle and Limavady.
Can I stay at home while the work is done in Portrush?
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 is a goalpost frame in an extension?
A goalpost frame is two steel columns with a beam across the top, bolted together and standing on their own foundations. It is used where the opening is so wide that little masonry is left to bear on, or where the existing corners cannot take the load. The engineer decides whether one is needed.
Can I use my own builder for the extension and you for the steels?
Yes. We can supply and fit the steel package while another builder handles the extension shell and finishes. Dates are agreed with them so the rear wall is opened at the right stage, and the engineer's details are shared so levels, padstones and foundations line up.
Can I have a flat ceiling between the house and the extension?
Often, yes, but it depends on the floor depth above and the loads involved. The steel can sometimes be set up into the floor zone so the ceiling runs through level, which usually means more work to the joists. This needs deciding before the engineer designs the steel.
What happens at the survey visit in Portrush?
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.