Steel goalpost frames · Cardiff
Steel goalpost frames in Cardiff
Calculations, approvals, propping, steel and making good for steel goalpost frames across Cardiff.
- Price fixed in writing once scope is agreed
- Building control arranged
- Temporary works and making good included
- Free survey visit
- Engineer's calculations arranged
- Building control handled
- Fixed written price once scope is agreed
- England, Wales, mainland Scotland & NI
Planning steel goalpost frames in Cardiff
A steel goalpost frame is a beam supported on two steel columns, bolted together into one rigid unit shaped like a goalpost. It is used where the masonry either side of an opening cannot take the beam's load, or where a wide opening leaves little wall to bear on. The columns stand on base plates fixed to concrete pad foundations sized by the engineer.
We carry out steel goalpost frames throughout Cardiff, for homeowners, landlords and builders who need the structural part done properly. We cover the whole area, from the centre out to the suburbs. You get an itemised written quote that shows the calculations, approvals, steel, labour and finishing as separate lines.
Key points for your project
- While the old wall or piers come out, the floor, walls and roof above are held on props and needles. These stay in until the frame is fully bolted, levelled and packed, so the structure is never left without support.
- A goalpost frame differs from a simple beam because the beam does not rely on the walls at its ends. The two columns and the beam are connected so the whole frame carries the load down into foundations of its own.
- Keep the engineer's calculations, the frame drawings and the building control completion certificate together. They show a future buyer's surveyor how the opening is supported and save questions about the columns when the house is sold.
- Each column usually needs its own concrete pad foundation, because a column delivers a heavy point load that an ordinary floor slab or old strip footing may not take. The engineer sets the pad size and depth from the load and the ground conditions found.
- Goalpost frames are made to measure, so accurate site dimensions matter. Floor-to-ceiling height, the finished floor level and the width between column positions are taken before fabrication, because a frame that is a few millimetres out cannot simply be trimmed on site.
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
We submit the application or notice to Cardiff Council under the Building Regulations as they apply in Wales, before work starts.
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 Cardiff?
As a guide, budget £1,800–£5,450 including VAT for steel goalpost frame in Cardiff, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for prices in Wales (-9%).
| Job | Typical guide range | What it usually covers |
|---|---|---|
| Steel goalpost frame | £1,800–£5,450 | Two posts and a beam bolted as a frame, pad foundations, base plates and fitting |
| RSJ supply and fit (single beam) | £730–£2,280 per beam | Beam supplied, delivered, lifted and packed on padstones, with propping (calculations and approval priced separately) |
| Rear wall opening for bi-fold or sliding doors | £2,300–£6,350 | External wall opened up to about 5 m with steel, propping, cavity tray and making good (doors supplied separately) |
| Side return extension steelwork | £3,200–£7,750 | Beams and posts along the old side wall line, propping and approvals (extension build extra) |
Figures include our approximate regional adjustment for prices in Wales (-9%) and are rounded. How these figures are worked out.
Building rules for Cardiff
In Wales, structural alterations come under the Building Regulations 2010 as they apply in Wales. Cardiff Council handles building control for Cardiff. For work started or approved from 1 July 2026, the Welsh system uses an application to building control, dutyholders appointed in writing, a commencement notice before work starts and a compliance statement at the end.
Where the steel bears into a wall shared with next door, notice must be served under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. If your neighbour dissents, surveyors agree how the work is done before it starts.
More in Cardiff
Questions about steel goalpost frames in Cardiff
Who approves steel goalpost frames in Cardiff?
Structural work in Cardiff needs a building control application to Cardiff Council under the Welsh regulations, with a commencement notice before work starts. We prepare and submit it with the structural engineer's calculations and arrange the inspections, so the completion paperwork follows the job.
How much do steel goalpost frames cost in Cardiff?
As a guide, budget £1,800–£5,450 including VAT for steel goalpost frame in Cardiff, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for prices in Wales (-9%). 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.
Is a goalpost frame more expensive than a beam?
Generally yes, because there is more steel, more fabrication and new foundations to dig and pour. Against that, a goalpost can avoid rebuilding weak piers or strengthening walls so they can take a beam. Our itemised written quote shows the frame, pads, propping and making good separately so you can see where the cost sits.
Does a goalpost frame need foundations?
Yes, in most cases each column needs a concrete pad foundation beneath it. A column concentrates a lot of weight on a small area, and a normal floor slab is rarely designed for that. The engineer sizes each pad, and building control usually inspects the excavation before the concrete goes in.
What is a goalpost frame in an extension?
A goalpost frame is a steel beam sitting on two steel columns, bolted together so it stands as one unit. In an extension it is usually placed where the old rear wall was, holding up the house above while leaving a wide, clear opening. The columns rest on concrete pads, so the frame does not depend on the surrounding brickwork.
What is the difference between a goalpost and a portal frame?
A domestic goalpost is a simple version of a portal frame. Both use columns and a beam joined together, but a full portal frame has rigid joints designed to resist sideways loads on its own, as used in steel-framed industrial buildings. In a house, the engineer decides how rigid the goalpost joints need to be for that opening.
Do you cover Cardiff for steel goalpost frames?
Yes. We carry out steel goalpost frames in Cardiff. Book a free survey visit and we will check the wall, arrange the engineer's calculations and send an itemised written quote.