Temporary works & propping · Clevedon
Temporary works & propping in Clevedon
Steelwork, approvals and making good for temporary works & propping in Clevedon and nearby.
- Itemised written quote
- Beam sized by a structural engineer
- Covering Clevedon and nearby
- Free survey visit
- Engineer's calculations arranged
- Building control handled
- Fixed written price once scope is agreed
- England, Wales, mainland Scotland & NI
What temporary works & propping involve in Clevedon
For homes in Clevedon and the BS21 district, we handle temporary works & propping from survey to sign-off. We also cover the surrounding towns and villages in Somerset. The beam is sized by a structural engineer and inspected before it is boxed in.
The moment a load-bearing wall is cut, whatever it was holding needs another route to the ground. Temporary works provide that route. Done well, nothing above moves, ceilings stay intact and the floor below is not overloaded. Done badly, it is where structural work goes wrong.
Worth knowing before you start
- Every prop delivers a concentrated load that has to go somewhere. Before any are set up, the floor beneath is checked, because a suspended timber floor or a thin slab may not take that load without extra support carried down to the ground.
- Props and needles cannot go where pipes, cables or flues run. Their positions are checked against services before any holes are cut, and anything in the way is isolated or rerouted first by the appropriate trade.
- Needle holes leave neat square gaps in the wall above the new beam. Once the props are out, these are filled with brick or block and mortar, then plastered over with the rest of the making good.
- Props take up floor space for the length of the job, usually in the rooms on both sides of the wall. Furniture needs moving back, and nobody else in the house should knock, adjust or hang anything from the props.
- In the UK, temporary works are generally managed following BS 5975, the code of practice for temporary works procedures. On bigger jobs that means a named coordinator, a written design and checks before props are loaded or taken out.
Four stages, one team
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 a building notice or full plans application to North Somerset Council, so approval is in place before the wall is touched.
Fit, inspect, finish
The work is propped and the steel installed and packed tight. After inspection the opening is boxed, plastered and left clean.
Guide prices for temporary works & propping in Clevedon
As a guide, budget £150–£520 including VAT for temporary works and propping in Clevedon, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for prices in the South West (+3%).
| Job | Typical guide range | What it usually covers |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary works and propping | £150–£520 | Props, spreaders, needles and sole plates for a typical opening, installed and struck |
| Structural calculations for a beam | £260–£770 | Site measure or photos, beam and padstone design and calculations for building control |
| Chimney breast removal (ground floor) | £1,550–£3,100 | Ground-floor breast removed, steel to support the breast above, building control and making good |
| Lintel replacement | £410–£1,240 per lintel | Propping, removing the old lintel, new lintel set on beds and brickwork made good |
Figures include our approximate regional adjustment for prices in the South West (+3%) and are rounded. How these figures are worked out.
Building control and neighbours in Clevedon
Structural openings in English homes need building regulations approval before work starts. North Somerset Council can deal with it, or you can use a registered building control approver. Either way the steel is inspected before it is covered, and a completion certificate is issued at the end. Keep it safe for when you sell.
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.
Temporary works & propping near Clevedon
- Nailsea 4.3 mi
- Portishead 4.7 mi
- Weston-super-Mare 8.4 mi
- Kingswood 15.1 mi
- Burnham-on-Sea 15.3 mi
- Mangotsfield 15.6 mi
Questions about temporary works & propping in Clevedon
Do you also work near Clevedon?
Yes. We also cover nearby towns including Nailsea, Portishead, Weston-super-Mare and Kingswood.
How much do temporary works & propping cost in Clevedon?
As a guide, budget £150–£520 including VAT for temporary works and propping in Clevedon, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for prices in the South West (+3%). 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.
How long do props have to stay in after a beam is fitted?
Until the permanent steel is packed tight and able to carry the load. That includes time for the padstone and packing mortar to gain enough strength, which depends on the mix and the weather. On a typical opening, props are in for a few days before being released gradually.
Do I need a temporary works design for my job?
Not always. For a simple single opening, the propping shown in the engineer's calculations is often enough. Bigger or more complex jobs, such as removing several walls, supporting chimney stacks or replacing a shopfront beam, may need a separate temporary works design from an engineer, following the BS 5975 approach.
What is needling a wall?
Needling means cutting holes through a wall just above where an opening will go and passing short steel beams, called needles, through them. Each needle is supported on props on both sides, so the masonry above rests on the needles while the wall below is removed and the permanent beam is fitted.
Do you cover Clevedon for temporary works & propping?
Yes. We carry out temporary works & propping in Clevedon and the BS21 postcode districts. Book a free survey visit and we will check the wall, arrange the engineer's calculations and send an itemised written quote.