Steel BeamInstallers
Victorian side return extension with grey steel beams and roof rafters

Side return extension steels · Andover

Side return extension steels in Andover

Side return extension steels for homes in SP10, SP11, 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 Andover

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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 side return extension steels service in Andover

We carry out side return extension steels in Andover, covering the SP10 and SP11 postcode districts. We also cover the surrounding towns and villages in Hampshire. The job starts with a free survey visit so the engineer's calculations are based on your actual walls, floors and loads.

Side returns tend to need more steel than a straight rear extension: a long beam on the old wall line, often a second beam across the back of the main house, and columns where they meet. We arrange the design, approvals and party wall notices through a surveyor, and fit the steel frame in step with the build.

Worth knowing before you start

  • The number of beams, columns and connections drives steel cost more than the length of the side return alone. Keep the calculations, any party wall paperwork and the completion certificate together for when the house is sold.
  • Many outrigger kitchens have a chimney breast on the side wall being removed or on the party wall. Its position affects where beams can bear, and if any part of the breast is taken out, what remains above has to be supported as the engineer specifies.
  • Side passages often carry the house drains and rainwater pipes from the outrigger roof. Manholes and pipe runs are located early, and a shared or public sewer under the passage may need the water company's agreement before building over or near it.
  • The kitchen is usually out of use while the side wall comes down and the frame goes in, so many households set up a temporary kitchen elsewhere in the house. The rest of the property normally stays in use throughout the steel stage.
  • Fitting the steel frame for a side return usually takes a few working days on site, depending on how many beams and columns there are. It is scheduled with the builder so the new space can be roofed and weathertight soon after the old wall comes down.

From survey to sign-off in Andover

  1. Free visit

    A short visit to Andover 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

    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.

  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.

What do side return extension steels cost in Andover?

As a guide, budget £3,900–£9,500 including VAT for side return extension steelwork in Andover, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for prices in the South East (+12%).

JobTypical guide rangeWhat it usually covers
Side return extension steelwork£3,900–£9,500Beams and posts along the old side wall line, propping and approvals (extension build extra)
Fire protection to a steel beam£170–£670 per beamFire-rated board boxing or an intumescent coating system as specified
Party wall surveyor (agreed surveyor, per neighbour)£1,000–£2,250 per neighbourSchedule of condition and award where a neighbour dissents; serving notice alone, where the neighbour consents, costs far less (England and Wales only)
Temporary works and propping£170–£560Props, spreaders, needles and sole plates for a typical opening, installed and struck

Figures include our approximate regional adjustment for prices in the South East (+12%) and are rounded. How these figures are worked out.

Building control and neighbours in Andover

In England, taking out a load-bearing wall or putting in a beam is building work under the Building Regulations 2010. It needs approval from building control, either the local council's building control team or a registered building control approver, through a full plans application or a building notice. Part A covers the structure and Part B covers fire safety, which is why steel in homes is usually fire protected.

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

Side return extension steels near Andover

Local questions answered

Do you cover Andover for side return extension steels?

Yes. We carry out side return extension steels in Andover and the SP10 and SP11 postcode districts. Book a free survey visit and we will check the wall, arrange the engineer's calculations and send an itemised written quote.

How much do side return extension steels cost in Andover?

As a guide, budget £3,900–£9,500 including VAT for side return extension steelwork in Andover, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for prices in the South East (+12%). 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.

Does a glazed roof affect the steel beam?

Yes. Glazed roofs need the beam they sit on to stay very straight under load, so the engineer may set a stricter deflection limit than for a solid roof. That can mean a deeper or heavier steel section, and the roof supplier's details need sharing early.

Can a side return be built over a drain?

Sometimes, but drains in side passages need checking early. A shared or public sewer may need the water company's agreement before building over or close to it, and column foundations may have to avoid the pipe run. Manholes may need moving or adapting as part of the wider build.

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.

Do you also work near Andover?

Yes. We also cover nearby towns including Winchester, Newbury, Salisbury and Thatcham.

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.