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

RSJ installation · Jarrow

RSJ installation in Jarrow

RSJ installation for homes in NE31, NE32, NE33, designed by a structural engineer.

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

Free survey in Jarrow

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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

About our RSJ installation service in Jarrow

Jarrow has a mix of housing, and RSJ installation needs a slightly different approach in each. It sits about 5.2 miles from Newcastle upon Tyne, which we also cover. Whatever the age of the property, the steel goes in on proper bearings with temporary support in place throughout.

We supply and fit the steel from start to finish. That includes arranging the calculations, having the beam fabricated with the right end plates, holes and primer, getting it into the property, setting it on its bearings, and packing it so it takes the load. Building control, propping and making good sit in the same itemised quote.

Things to plan for

  • 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.
  • Steel for internal use is normally delivered with a primer coat to protect it during installation. Beams in damp positions, within external walls or exposed outside need a more robust coating or galvanising, as the engineer specifies.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Heavy steels are raised with suitable lifting equipment rather than by hand alone. Manual handling is planned so nobody carries more than is safe, and the lift is coordinated so the beam goes up level onto both bearings together.

From survey to sign-off in Jarrow

  1. Survey in Jarrow

    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.

  2. 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.

  3. Building control

    We submit a building notice or full plans application to South Tyneside Council, so approval is in place before the wall is touched.

  4. 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.

What does RSJ installation cost in Jarrow?

As a guide, budget £740–£2,320 per beam including VAT for rSJ supply and fit (single beam) in Jarrow, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for prices in the North East (-7%).

JobTypical guide rangeWhat it usually covers
RSJ supply and fit (single beam)£740–£2,320 per beamBeam supplied, delivered, lifted and packed on padstones, with propping (calculations and approval priced separately)
Load-bearing wall removal with steel beam£1,850–£4,650Typical internal wall up to about 4 m: calculations, building control, propping, steel, padstones, fitting, fire protection and making good
Fire protection to a steel beam£140–£560 per beamFire-rated board boxing or an intumescent coating system as specified
Structural calculations for a beam£230–£700Site measure or photos, beam and padstone design and calculations for building control

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 Jarrow

For Jarrow, building control is provided by South Tyneside Council, or by a registered building control approver if preferred. We send them the engineer's calculations with a building notice or full plans application and book the inspections. Work done without approval can cause problems at sale and is far dearer to put right later.

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.

Building rules in England

RSJ installation near Jarrow

Questions about RSJ installation in Jarrow

Do you also work near Jarrow?

Yes. We also cover nearby towns including Hebburn, Wallsend, South Shields and North Shields.

Can you work on older or listed homes in Jarrow?

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.

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.

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.

Who decides what size RSJ I need?

A structural engineer. The size depends on the span, the loads from floors, walls and roof above, how stiff the beam needs to be and how its ends are supported. We arrange calculations from a qualified engineer, or fit to calculations you already have, rather than guessing a size.

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

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.