Side return extension steels · Coleraine
Side return extension steels in Coleraine
Side return extension steels for homes in BT52, designed by a structural engineer.
- Survey, design and installation in one
- Covering BT52
- Inspected before it is covered
- Free survey visit
- Engineer's calculations arranged
- Building control handled
- Fixed written price once scope is agreed
- England, Wales, mainland Scotland & NI
What side return extension steels involve in Coleraine
Our side return extension steels service in Coleraine covers everything from the first visit to the completion paperwork. The wider Causeway Coast and Glens area is covered as well. Postcode districts we cover here include BT52.
Many Victorian and Edwardian terraces have a narrow back wing, often called an outrigger, with a strip of yard down one side. Infilling that strip turns a galley kitchen into a wide family room, but the outrigger's side wall usually holds up a bathroom or bedroom above, so it has to be replaced with steel.
Things to plan for
- Some owners leave the long beam on show as a feature under a glazed roof. Exposed steel still needs fire protection where building control requires it, which usually means a specified intumescent paint system applied to the correct thickness.
- Glazed roofs over side returns are usually made to measure and need an edge that stays straight and level. The engineer may set a stiffer limit on how far the steel can deflect so the glazing is not stressed once loaded.
- The side wall of a typical outrigger carries the first-floor wall above it, and sometimes the rear wing's roof and the joists of the room over the kitchen. That is why taking it out calls for a beam along its full length.
- Planning rules for side return infills depend on the house and its location, and some need a full planning application rather than relying on permitted development. The steel design forms part of the building regulations approval either way.
- Where the beam along the old side wall meets a beam across the main house, the junction carries a heavy point load. The engineer usually details a column or a bolted connection there, which needs a solid foundation beneath it.
What happens, step by step
Look and measure
We check the wall, the span you want and what the wall is carrying, and photograph anything the engineer needs to see.
Design and price
Calculations come back from the engineer and we confirm your fixed written price, line by line.
Building control
A full plans application or building notice goes to Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council under the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 before work begins.
Fit, inspect, finish
The work is propped and the steel installed and packed tight. After inspection the opening is boxed, plastered and left clean.
How much should I budget in Coleraine?
As a guide, budget £3,000–£7,300 including VAT for side return extension steelwork in Coleraine, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for prices in Northern Ireland (-14%).
| Job | Typical guide range | What it usually covers |
|---|---|---|
| Side return extension steelwork | £3,000–£7,300 | Beams and posts along the old side wall line, propping and approvals (extension build extra) |
| Temporary works and propping | £130–£430 | Props, spreaders, needles and sole plates for a typical opening, installed and struck |
| Structural calculations for a beam | £220–£640 | Site measure or photos, beam and padstone design and calculations for building control |
Figures include our approximate regional adjustment for prices in Northern Ireland (-14%) and are rounded. How these figures are worked out.
Approvals in Coleraine
Removing a load-bearing wall in Northern Ireland needs building control approval from the council. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council covers Coleraine. The engineer's calculations support the application, and a completion certificate is issued after the final inspection.
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.
Side return extension steels near Coleraine
- Portrush 5.0 mi
- Ballymoney 7.6 mi
- Limavady 12.6 mi
- Ballycastle 17.2 mi
- Ballymena 24.2 mi
Local questions answered
Do you also work near Coleraine?
Yes. We also cover nearby towns including Portrush, Ballymoney, Limavady and Ballycastle.
How much do side return extension steels cost in Coleraine?
As a guide, budget £3,000–£7,300 including VAT for side return extension steelwork in Coleraine, 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.
Do I need planning permission for a side return extension?
It depends on the house and where it is. Some side return infills can be built under permitted development, but the rules for side extensions are restrictive, and conservation areas and listed buildings add further controls. Check with your local planning authority or architect before committing to a design.
Why does a side return need columns?
Columns are used where two beams meet or where there is not enough solid wall to carry the end of a beam. The column takes the concentrated load down to a pad foundation in the ground. Sometimes it can be hidden in a wall nib or boxed in neatly.
How long does it take to fit side return steels?
Most side return steel frames take two to five working days on site, depending on the number of beams and columns and how easy access is. That covers propping, removing the old side wall, fitting the steels and packing them. Fire protection and finishes follow afterwards.