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

Rear extension steels · Faversham

Rear extension steels in Faversham

Rear extension steels for homes in ME13, designed by a structural engineer.

  • Price fixed in writing once scope is agreed
  • Building control arranged
  • Temporary works and making good included

Free survey in Faversham

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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 Faversham: how it works

Need rear extension steels in Faversham? Our coverage runs across Kent, so nearby villages are included too. We survey the property, arrange the engineer's design, deal with local building control, fit the steel and make good, all under one quote for ME13 addresses.

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.

Worth knowing before you start

  • The opening is usually formed once the extension walls and roof are up, so the house stays secure and dry. Leaving it too late can hold up plastering and floor screeding, so the steel date is agreed with the builder early on.
  • During the opening, props stand both inside the house and within the extension footprint. Where props bear on a newly laid slab, the propping plan checks that the slab can take those point loads, using spreaders where needed.
  • 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.
  • 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.

From survey to sign-off in Faversham

  1. Free visit

    A short visit to Faversham to see the job, agree what you want and check the bearings, floors and services that affect the design.

  2. Calculations

    The engineer's calculations and a simple drawing are prepared for your opening and shared with you before anything is ordered.

  3. Building control

    We submit a building notice or full plans application to the local council's building control team, so approval is in place before the wall is touched.

  4. 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.

How much should I budget in Faversham?

As a guide, budget £2,800–£7,850 including VAT for opening into a rear extension in Faversham, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for prices in the South East (+12%).

JobTypical guide rangeWhat it usually covers
Opening into a rear extension£2,800–£7,850Original rear wall removed with a beam or goalpost, approvals and propping, coordinated with the extension build
Structural calculations for a beam£280–£840Site measure or photos, beam and padstone design and calculations for building control
Rear wall opening for bi-fold or sliding doors£2,800–£7,850External wall opened up to about 5 m with steel, propping, cavity tray and making good (doors supplied separately)
Party wall surveyor (agreed surveyor, per neighbour)£1,000–£2,250 per neighbourSchedule of condition and award where a neighbour dissents; serving notice alone, where the neighbour consents, costs far less (England and Wales only)

Figures include our approximate regional adjustment for prices in the South East (+12%) and are rounded. How these figures are worked out.

Building rules for Faversham

For Faversham, building control is provided by the local council's building control team, or by a registered building control approver if preferred. We send them the engineer's calculations with a building notice or full plans application and book the inspections. Work done without approval can cause problems at sale and is far dearer to put right later.

Terraced and semi-detached homes often need party wall notices, because cutting into a shared wall to take a beam end is notifiable under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Allow at least two months for the notice period unless your neighbour agrees sooner.

Building rules in England

Rear extension steels near Faversham

Questions about rear extension steels in Faversham

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

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.

Can you work on older or listed homes in Faversham?

Yes. Older homes often have lime mortar, timber lintels or shallow footings, which the engineer allows for. Listed buildings need listed building consent for internal structural changes as well as building regulations approval, and that must be in place first.

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.

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.

How wide can a rear extension opening be?

There is no fixed limit, and openings across the full width of a house are common with the right steel. The engineer sizes the beam or frame for the span and the loads above. Wider spans need deeper or heavier steel and possibly columns, which affects headroom and cost.

How much do rear extension steels cost in Faversham?

As a guide, budget £2,800–£7,850 including VAT for opening into a rear extension in Faversham, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for prices in the South East (+12%). 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.

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.