Steel BeamInstallers
Adjustable steel props and needles supporting a brick wall before an opening is formed

Temporary works & propping · Pudsey

Temporary works & propping in Pudsey

Temporary works & propping for homes in LS5, LS12, LS13, designed by a structural engineer.

  • Itemised written quote
  • Beam sized by a structural engineer
  • Covering Pudsey and nearby

Free survey in Pudsey

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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

What temporary works & propping involve in Pudsey

Pudsey has a mix of housing, and temporary works & propping need a slightly different approach in each. We also work in nearby Bradford, roughly 3.7 miles away. Whatever the age of the property, the steel goes in on proper bearings with temporary support in place throughout.

Propping is included in every structural job we quote, and we can also provide it as a separate service where a wall, lintel or chimney needs supporting while other work goes on. The layout of props, needles and spreaders follows the engineer's calculations or a temporary works design for the job.

Key points for your project

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Propping costs depend on how many props and needles the load calls for, how long they stay in, whether a separate temporary works design is required, and whether props must continue through a floor to reach solid ground.
  • The order of work matters. Props go in and are tightened before any masonry is cut, the opening is formed in stages, and the props stay until the permanent steel is packed tight and the bedding mortar has gained enough strength.

From survey to sign-off in Pudsey

  1. 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.

  2. Design and price

    Calculations come back from the engineer and we confirm your fixed written price, line by line.

  3. Building control

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

  4. 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 Pudsey?

As a guide, budget £140–£480 including VAT for temporary works and propping in Pudsey, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for prices in Yorkshire and the Humber (-5%).

JobTypical guide rangeWhat it usually covers
Temporary works and propping£140–£480Props, spreaders, needles and sole plates for a typical opening, installed and struck
Lintel replacement£380–£1,140 per lintelPropping, removing the old lintel, new lintel set on beds and brickwork made good
Structural calculations for a beam£240–£710Site measure or photos, beam and padstone design and calculations for building control
RSJ supply and fit (single beam)£760–£2,380 per beamBeam supplied, delivered, lifted and packed on padstones, with propping (calculations and approval priced separately)

Figures include our approximate regional adjustment for prices in Yorkshire and the Humber (-5%) and are rounded. How these figures are worked out.

Building rules for Pudsey

For Pudsey, building control is provided by Leeds City 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.

Terraced and semi-detached homes often need party wall notices, because cutting into a shared wall to take a beam end is notifiable under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Allow at least two months for the notice period unless your neighbour agrees sooner.

Building rules in England

Temporary works & propping near Pudsey

Local questions answered

Do you also work near Pudsey?

Yes. We also cover nearby towns including Bradford, Morley, Leeds and Yeadon.

Can props damage my floor?

They can if they are set up carelessly. Each prop concentrates load on a small area, so sole plates or boards are used to spread it, and on suspended timber floors props may be carried through to the ground below. Floor coverings are protected with boards and sheeting before any prop goes in.

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.

What if props need to go on my neighbour's side of the wall?

Then their agreement is needed first. Where needles pass through a party wall, props may have to stand on the neighbour's side, and in England and Wales that work is normally covered by party wall notices served before work starts. We arrange notices through a party wall surveyor where they are required.

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.