Steel BeamInstallers
Two installers seen from behind lifting a steel beam onto a padstone

RSJ installation · Craigavon

RSJ installation in Craigavon

RSJ installation for homes in BT63, BT64, BT65, designed by a structural engineer.

  • Free survey visit in Craigavon
  • Engineer's calculations arranged
  • Building control handled for you

Free survey in Craigavon

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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

Planning RSJ installation in Craigavon

Need RSJ installation in Craigavon? Our coverage runs across Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, so nearby villages are included too. We survey the property, arrange the engineer's design, deal with Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, fit the steel and make good, all under one quote for BT63, BT64, BT65 and BT66 addresses.

People still call almost any steel beam in a house an RSJ, even though the sections fitted today are usually universal beams with parallel flanges. Whatever the name, the job is the same: a length of structural steel, made to an engineer's specification, carrying floors, walls or roof over a space where support used to be.

What to expect

  • RSJ originally meant a rolled steel joist with tapered flanges. Most beams supplied for homes today are universal beams with parallel flanges, but the term RSJ has stuck, and builders, engineers and building control all understand what it means.
  • Packing is what makes the beam work. Steel shims and dry-pack mortar fill the gap between the top flange and the structure above, so the load transfers onto the steel without the floor or wall settling down onto it.
  • The engineer chooses the section type for the job. Universal beams suit most spans, universal columns are stockier and used as posts or where depth is limited, parallel flange channels fit against walls or timbers, and box sections suit slim or exposed members.
  • Sometimes two beams are bolted side by side with spacers, either to carry a thick wall or to fit through a tight space. Bolt spacing and spacer type come from the engineer's design rather than being decided on site.
  • If you already hold calculations from an architect or engineer, we install to those. Where something on site differs from the drawing, such as a weaker wall or a different joist direction, the engineer is asked to confirm before work carries on.

How the job runs in Craigavon

  1. Free visit

    A short visit to Craigavon 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

    A full plans application or building notice goes to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council under the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 before work begins.

  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 Craigavon?

As a guide, budget £690–£2,150 per beam including VAT for rSJ supply and fit (single beam) in Craigavon, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for prices in Northern Ireland (-14%).

JobTypical guide rangeWhat it usually covers
RSJ supply and fit (single beam)£690–£2,150 per beamBeam supplied, delivered, lifted and packed on padstones, with propping (calculations and approval priced separately)
Structural calculations for a beam£220–£640Site measure or photos, beam and padstone design and calculations for building control
Temporary works and propping£130–£430Props, spreaders, needles and sole plates for a typical opening, installed and struck
Fire protection to a steel beam£130–£520 per beamFire-rated board boxing or an intumescent coating system as specified

Figures include our approximate regional adjustment for prices in Northern Ireland (-14%) and are rounded. How these figures are worked out.

Approvals in Craigavon

Removing a load-bearing wall in Northern Ireland needs building control approval from the council. Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council covers Craigavon. The engineer's calculations support the application, and a completion certificate is issued after the final inspection.

Northern Ireland has no Party Wall Act, so there is no statutory notice to serve. Where the steel bears into a shared wall, the title deeds and the general law apply, and agreeing the work with your neighbour in writing first is good practice.

Building rules in Northern Ireland

RSJ installation near Craigavon

RSJ installation in Craigavon: your questions

How much does RSJ installation cost in Craigavon?

As a guide, budget £690–£2,150 per beam including VAT for rSJ supply and fit (single beam) in Craigavon, 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.

Who approves RSJ installation in Craigavon?

Structural work in Craigavon needs a full plans application or building notice to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council. We prepare and submit it with the structural engineer's calculations and arrange the inspections, so the completion paperwork follows the job.

Does an RSJ need to be painted or boxed in?

Usually it needs fire protection, most often by boxing in with fire-rated plasterboard and skimming. If you want the steel on show, an intumescent paint system can be applied to the specified thickness and then top-coated in your chosen colour. The fabrication primer is not fire protection on its own.

Can you fit an RSJ to my own engineer's calculations?

Yes. We install to calculations and drawings from your engineer or architect, as long as they cover the beam, bearings and any columns or connections. If site conditions differ from what the design assumed, we check with the engineer before carrying on.

Is an RSJ the same as a steel beam?

In everyday use, yes. Builders and homeowners call most steel beams RSJs, whether they are universal beams, channels or columns. Technically an RSJ is one particular older section shape, but the engineer's drawing names the exact section type, so there is no confusion on site.

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

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.

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.