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

RSJ installation · Mid Ulster

RSJ installation in Mid Ulster

Survey, engineer's design and installation of RSJ installation anywhere in Mid Ulster.

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

Free survey in Mid Ulster

Tell us about your RSJ installation project in Mid Ulster.

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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

What RSJ installation involves in Mid Ulster

RSJ installation is the supply and fitting of a structural steel beam to carry load across an opening or in place of a wall. RSJ stands for rolled steel joist, an older name for an I-shaped steel section; most domestic beams today are universal beams. Installation covers fabrication to the engineer's design, delivery, lifting, bedding on padstones and packing tight.

We carry out RSJ installation throughout Mid Ulster, for homeowners, landlords and builders who need the structural part done properly. Coverage takes in Dungannon, Cookstown and Magherafelt and everywhere in between. You get an itemised written quote that shows the calculations, approvals, steel, labour and finishing as separate lines.

Key points for your project

  • Floor joists can rest on the bottom flange, hang from timber packers bolted into the web, or be notched to sit over the steel. The engineer specifies the connection, and it affects how flush the finished ceiling can be.
  • Delivery can make or break an RSJ job. A long beam has to turn through a front door, along a hallway and past the stairs, so routes are measured at the survey and alternatives such as a window opening are planned early.
  • Structural steel comes in recognised grades, and the engineer's drawing states which grade the calculations assume. The steel supplied matches that specification, and the delivery paperwork is kept so building control can see what has been fitted.
  • 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.
  • Padstones spread the concentrated load from each beam end into the masonry below. They may be concrete, engineering brick or a steel plate, depending on the engineer's design and the strength of the wall beneath.

How the job runs in Mid Ulster

  1. Free visit

    A short visit to Mid Ulster 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 Mid Ulster District 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.

Guide prices for RSJ installation in Mid Ulster

As a guide, budget £690–£2,150 per beam including VAT for rSJ supply and fit (single beam) in Mid Ulster, 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)
Temporary works and propping£130–£430Props, spreaders, needles and sole plates for a typical opening, installed and struck
Steel goalpost frame£1,700–£5,150Two posts and a beam bolted as a frame, pad foundations, base plates and fitting
Steel beam replacement£1,700–£4,750Propping, removing the failed beam, new steel on proper bearings, approval and making good

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

Approvals in Mid Ulster

In Northern Ireland, structural work comes under the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and is approved by the local council's building control. For Mid Ulster that is Mid Ulster District Council. We submit a full plans application or building notice before work starts and book the inspections.

The Party Wall etc. Act does not extend to Northern Ireland. Shared walls are dealt with under your title and the general law, so we recommend agreeing access and the work with your neighbour before it starts.

Building rules in Northern Ireland

RSJ installation by town

Questions about RSJ installation in Mid Ulster

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

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.

Which towns in Mid Ulster do you cover?

We cover towns including Dungannon, Cookstown and Magherafelt, plus the villages and smaller towns around them.

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.

What does RSJ stand for?

RSJ stands for rolled steel joist. It was the name for a hot-rolled I-shaped steel section with tapered flanges, and it is still used loosely for any steel beam in a house. Most steels fitted in homes today are universal beams, which do the same job with parallel flanges.

Can an RSJ be delivered in sections?

Yes, where access is tight. The engineer can design bolted splice joints so a long beam arrives in two or more pieces and is joined in place. The splice has to be part of the calculations from the start, because it changes how the beam carries load at that point.

How is an RSJ installed?

The structure above is propped, the wall or opening is prepared, and padstones are bedded at each end. The beam is lifted onto them, bolted where needed and packed with shims and dry-pack. Props come out once it is carrying, building control inspects it, and the steel is then fire protected and finished.

Do you cover Mid Ulster for RSJ installation?

Yes. We carry out RSJ installation in Mid Ulster. Book a free survey visit and we will check the wall, arrange the engineer's calculations and send an itemised written quote.

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.