Rear extension steels · Chichester
Rear extension steels in Chichester
Steelwork, approvals and making good for rear extension steels in Chichester and nearby.
- Free survey visit in Chichester
- 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
Rear extension steels in Chichester: how it works
We carry out rear extension steels in Chichester, covering the PO18 and PO19 postcode districts. It sits about 13.8 miles from Portsmouth, which we also cover. 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.
Worth knowing before you start
- The original rear wall of most houses is load-bearing because it supports first-floor joists and the bedroom wall above. Even where the joists run parallel to it, the masonry overhead still needs carrying, so steel is almost always part of opening it up.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
How the job runs in Chichester
Free visit
A short visit to Chichester 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
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.
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 Chichester?
As a guide, budget £2,800–£7,850 including VAT for opening into a rear extension in Chichester, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for prices in the South East (+12%).
| Job | Typical guide range | What it usually covers |
|---|---|---|
| Opening into a rear extension | £2,800–£7,850 | 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 | £2,800–£7,850 | External 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 neighbour | Schedule of condition and award where a neighbour dissents; serving notice alone, where the neighbour consents, costs far less (England and Wales only) |
| Side return extension steelwork | £3,900–£9,500 | Beams and posts along the old side wall line, propping and approvals (extension build extra) |
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 Chichester
Structural openings in English homes need building regulations approval before work starts. The local council's building control team can deal with it, or you can use a registered building control approver. Either way the steel is inspected before it is covered, and a completion certificate is issued at the end. Keep it safe for when you sell.
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 Chichester
- Bognor Regis 5.8 mi
- Havant 9.1 mi
- Littlehampton 10.6 mi
- Waterlooville 11.3 mi
- Portsmouth 13.8 mi
- Gosport 15.5 mi
Questions about rear extension steels in Chichester
Do you also work near Chichester?
Yes. We also cover nearby towns including Bognor Regis, Havant, Littlehampton and Waterlooville.
Can I stay at home while the work is done in Chichester?
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.
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.
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.
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 you work on older or listed homes in Chichester?
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.