DOT Structural work: the steel behind open-plan living.
Steel beams, load-bearing wall removal and underpinning. The work you never see again once it’s done, so it has to be done right, to the engineer’s spec and signed off by Building Control.
What structural work do we do?
Most of our structural work goes in as part of an extension or loft conversion, either before we start or during the build. We do it on its own too, for knock-throughs and foundations.
RSJ & steel beam installation
From £1,800 + VATA steel beam takes the weight when you open up a wall. The structural engineer sets the size and thickness of the beam, and the padstones it sits on. The length is just the width of the opening.
- Open plan into an extension typically adds £3,000–£5,000
- A long steel across a whole back wall can be more than £5,000
- Every beam boxed in for fire protection and signed off by Building Control
Load-bearing wall removal
From £2,000 + VATOpen up a kitchen, knock two rooms into one, or open the back of the house into a new extension. If it’s just the beam, we’re in and out in a few days. With boxing in, plastering and making good, it’s usually 1–2 weeks.
- Padstones in a day or two early, so they’ve set
- Acrows and strongboys every 40–50cm, holding the wall before anything comes out
- Props out after a couple of days, holes packed, Building Control check
Underpinning
From £6,000 + VATStrengthening foundations that have moved, usually because of subsidence. A structural engineer works out the cause and the method first, then we carry out the work to their design, with Building Control sign-off.
- If it’s an insurance claim, the insurer usually sends their own surveyor first
- It can be more disruptive than a knock-through, and we’ll tell you honestly what to expect
Structural checks and engineer’s reports
Worried about a crack, a sagging lintel or a wall you want out? We’ll come and look for free. If it’s worth checking properly, we’ll bring in the structural engineer we work with for a proper assessment and written report, or you can use your own.
- Typical engineer fees: £250–£700 for a beam calculation, £300–£800 for a survey report
- Plenty of cracks are nothing to worry about, and we’ll tell you straight
How does a steel beam go in?
The short version of our process. Most of the wall-out, beam-in part happens in a single day.
A 6m steel in Doveridge
On the extension we’re building in Doveridge, the customer wanted the new room open plan to the rest of the house. That meant a 6m steel beam running the whole length of the back wall where the extension joins on, roughly £5,000 or more on its own.
The engineer’s spec meant the padstones the beam sits on had to be filled with concrete in the middle for extra strength. It’s the kind of detail you’d never guess without the calculations, and exactly what Building Control check.
Who designs the steel?
A structural engineer. We have one we work with regularly, or you can use your own. They set the beam size and padstones, we build to it, and Building Control sign it off.
Do I need an engineer? →Not sure if it’s a problem?
Cracks, sticking doors, sloping floors. Some are cosmetic and some aren’t. Here’s how to tell, and what to do next.
See the signs →Common questions
How much does it cost to remove a load-bearing wall?
From around £2,000 plus VAT. A long steel across a whole back wall, like our 6m one in Doveridge, can be more than £5,000. We break it down for every house, because the opening, the beam size and the spec all change it.
How long does it take to put a steel in?
The wall comes out and the beam goes in on the same day. The props come out a couple of days later. With boxing in, plastering and making good, it’s usually 1–2 weeks in total.
Do I need a structural engineer or just a builder?
Both. Any work on a load-bearing wall or foundation needs an engineer’s calculations before Building Control will sign it off. We can arrange the engineer, or you can use your own.
Can I live in the house during structural work?
Usually yes for a steel or wall removal. Underpinning can be more disruptive, and we’ll tell you honestly at the quote stage what to expect.
Will my insurance cover underpinning?
Often yes, if subsidence is confirmed, though there’s usually an excess (commonly £1,000) and the insurer will send their own surveyor first.
What about a wall we share with next door?
If a beam sits into a party wall, the law says you must give your neighbour notice first, usually two months for work on the wall itself. We’ll tell you if it applies.
Structural work near you
Based in Uttoxeter, working across Staffordshire, Derbyshire and the Midlands. Find local planning advice for your area.