Rear extension steels · Fulham
Rear extension steels in Fulham
Rear extension steels for homes in SW3, SW5, SW6, designed by a structural engineer.
- Free survey visit in Fulham
- Engineer's calculations arranged
- Building control handled for you
- Free survey visit
- Engineer's calculations arranged
- Building control handled
- Fixed written price once scope is agreed
- England, Wales, mainland Scotland & NI
About our rear extension steels service in Fulham
We carry out rear extension steels in Fulham, covering the SW3, SW5, SW6, SW7 and SW10 postcode districts. The wider London area is covered as well. The job starts with a free survey visit so the engineer's calculations are based on your actual walls, floors and loads.
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The steelwork forms part of the extension's building regulations approval, and the engineer's calculations go in with it. Planning for the extension itself is separate; many rear extensions to houses in England fall within permitted development, subject to size limits and conditions.
- In terraced and semi-detached houses one end of the beam often bears into the party wall. In England and Wales that is notifiable under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, and the extension's own foundations near the boundary may need notices as well.
How the job runs in Fulham
Survey in Fulham
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.
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.
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.
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 Fulham?
As a guide, budget £3,200–£8,950 including VAT for opening into a rear extension in Fulham, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for London prices (+28%).
| Job | Typical guide range | What it usually covers |
|---|---|---|
| Opening into a rear extension | £3,200–£8,950 | Original rear wall removed with a beam or goalpost, approvals and propping, coordinated with the extension build |
| Party wall surveyor (agreed surveyor, per neighbour) | £1,150–£2,550 per neighbour | Schedule of condition and award where a neighbour dissents; serving notice alone, where the neighbour consents, costs far less (England and Wales only) |
| Rear wall opening for bi-fold or sliding doors | £3,200–£8,950 | External wall opened up to about 5 m with steel, propping, cavity tray and making good (doors supplied separately) |
| Steel goalpost frame | £2,550–£7,700 | Two posts and a beam bolted as a frame, pad foundations, base plates and fitting |
Figures include our approximate regional adjustment for London prices (+28%) and are rounded. How these figures are worked out.
Approvals in Fulham
In England, taking out a load-bearing wall or putting in a beam is building work under the Building Regulations 2010. It needs approval from building control, either the local council's building control team or a registered building control approver, through a full plans application or a building notice. Part A covers the structure and Part B covers fire safety, which is why steel in homes is usually fire protected.
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. We arrange this through a party wall surveyor.
Rear extension steels near Fulham
- Chelsea 1.4 mi
- Putney 1.6 mi
- Battersea 1.9 mi
- Shepherds Bush 1.9 mi
- Barnes 2.2 mi
- Notting Hill 2.2 mi
Rear extension steels in Fulham: your questions
How much do rear extension steels cost in Fulham?
As a guide, budget £3,200–£8,950 including VAT for opening into a rear extension in Fulham, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for London prices (+28%). 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.
What happens at the survey visit in Fulham?
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.
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.
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.
Do you cover Fulham for rear extension steels?
Yes. We carry out rear extension steels in Fulham and the SW3, SW5, SW6, SW7 and SW10 postcode districts. Book a free survey visit and we will check the wall, arrange the engineer's calculations and send an itemised written quote.