Rear extension steels · Felling
Rear extension steels in Felling
Rear extension steels for homes in NE8, NE9, NE10, designed by a structural engineer.
- Itemised written quote
- Beam sized by a structural engineer
- Covering Felling and nearby
- Free survey visit
- Engineer's calculations arranged
- Building control handled
- Fixed written price once scope is agreed
- England, Wales, mainland Scotland & NI
What rear extension steels involve in Felling
Our rear extension steels service in Felling covers everything from the first visit to the completion paperwork. Felling is around 2.2 miles from Newcastle upon Tyne, and we cover both. Postcode districts we cover here include NE8, NE9, NE10 and NE11.
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 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 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Four stages, one team
Survey in Felling
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 Gateshead Council, 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.
Guide prices for rear extension steels in Felling
As a guide, budget £2,300–£6,500 including VAT for opening into a rear extension in Felling, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for prices in the North East (-7%).
| Job | Typical guide range | What it usually covers |
|---|---|---|
| Opening into a rear extension | £2,300–£6,500 | Original rear wall removed with a beam or goalpost, approvals and propping, coordinated with the extension build |
| Structural calculations for a beam | £230–£700 | Site measure or photos, beam and padstone design and calculations for building control |
| Party wall surveyor (agreed surveyor, per neighbour) | £840–£1,860 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) |
| Steel goalpost frame | £1,850–£5,600 | Two posts and a beam bolted as a frame, pad foundations, base plates and fitting |
Figures include our approximate regional adjustment for prices in the North East (-7%) and are rounded. How these figures are worked out.
Building rules for Felling
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 Gateshead Council 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.
Local questions answered
How soon can rear extension steels start in Felling?
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.
How much do rear extension steels cost in Felling?
As a guide, budget £2,300–£6,500 including VAT for opening into a rear extension in Felling, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for prices in the North East (-7%). 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 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.
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.
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.
Do I need a party wall agreement for rear extension steels in Felling?
Yes, if the beam bears into a shared wall: the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies in England and Wales, and a party structure notice must be served at least two months before that work starts. We arrange it through a party wall surveyor.