Rear extension steels · Fermanagh and Omagh
Rear extension steels in Fermanagh and Omagh
Rear extension steels across Fermanagh and Omagh, designed by a structural engineer and signed off by building control.
- Price fixed in writing once scope is agreed
- Building control arranged
- Temporary works and making good included
- 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 Fermanagh and Omagh: 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 Fermanagh and Omagh. We can survey in places such as Omagh and Enniskillen and the villages around them. 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.
Worth knowing before you start
- 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.
- When bi-fold or sliding doors sit directly beneath the new steel, the beam has to stay stiff enough not to bind the door panels. The engineer sets a tighter deflection limit, which can mean a deeper or heavier section than strength alone would need.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Fermanagh and Omagh
Free visit
A short visit to Fermanagh and Omagh 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 Fermanagh and Omagh District 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 Fermanagh and Omagh?
As a guide, budget £2,150–£6,000 including VAT for opening into a rear extension in Fermanagh and Omagh, 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 |
| Side return extension steelwork | £3,000–£7,300 | Beams and posts along the old side wall line, propping and approvals (extension build extra) |
| Steel goalpost frame | £1,700–£5,150 | Two posts and a beam bolted as a frame, pad foundations, base plates and fitting |
| 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) |
Figures include our approximate regional adjustment for prices in Northern Ireland (-14%) and are rounded. How these figures are worked out.
Building control and neighbours in Fermanagh and Omagh
In Northern Ireland, structural work comes under the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and is approved by the local council's building control. For Fermanagh and Omagh that is Fermanagh and Omagh District Council. We submit a full plans application or building notice before work starts and book the inspections.
The Party Wall etc. Act does not extend to Northern Ireland. Shared walls are dealt with under your title and the general law, so we recommend agreeing access and the work with your neighbour before it starts.
Rear extension steels by town
Rear extension steels in Fermanagh and Omagh: your questions
How much do rear extension steels cost in Fermanagh and Omagh?
As a guide, budget £2,150–£6,000 including VAT for opening into a rear extension in Fermanagh and Omagh, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for prices in Northern Ireland (-14%). The exact figure depends on the span, what the wall carries, access and the finish, and is fixed in writing once the scope is agreed.
Which towns in Fermanagh and Omagh do you cover?
We cover towns including Omagh and Enniskillen, plus the villages and smaller towns around them.
Will my kitchen be out of action while the rear wall is opened?
For a few days, usually. The kitchen often sits against the rear wall, so units, sinks or appliances near the opening may need disconnecting while the wall is propped and removed. The work area is sheeted off and the rest of the house stays in use.
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.
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.
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.
What happens at the survey visit in Fermanagh and Omagh?
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.