Steel beams for a house extension in Dublin
Almost every rear extension in Dublin needs at least one steel beam, because taking out the back wall of a house removes something that was holding the floor and roof up. This is what actually happens between your engineer's drawing and the day the beam is lifted into place.
It starts with the engineer, not the fabricator
A structural engineer sizes the beam from the span, the loads above it and the ground conditions. That drawing gives the section size, the grade of steel, the length, the connection details and the padstone requirements. Without it there is nothing to price and nothing to cut, so the first thing we ask for is the drawing rather than a description over the phone.
If you do not have an engineer yet, your architect or builder will normally recommend one. For a straightforward single storey rear extension in Dublin the engineer's fee is a small part of the job and it is what makes the steelwork legal and insurable.
What we do in the workshop
We cut the beam to length, drill it for the connections, weld on any cleats, base plates or end plates the drawing calls for, and finish it in primer or galvanise it if it will be exposed. Every beam is marked with its reference from the drawing so the builder knows which one goes where instead of guessing on site.
Because we hold EN 1090-1 EXC3 certification, the steel comes with the declaration of performance and CE marking that building control expects to see. On Dublin sites that paperwork is checked more often than people expect, and an unmarked beam from an uncertified shop can hold up a sign off.
Padstones, bearings and the bits that catch people out
A beam has to land on something capable of carrying it. That usually means concrete padstones built into the existing wall at each end, sized by the engineer. Builders occasionally set these too low, too high or too short, and the beam then does not sit correctly. Checking the padstone dimensions against the drawing before delivery day costs nothing and saves a wasted crane visit.
The other common issue is access. A six metre beam has to physically get to the back of a mid terrace house in Ranelagh or Drumcondra. We ask about the route at quote stage, and where access is tight the engineer can sometimes design the same opening as two lighter beams that can be carried in and bolted together.
Timescales and cost in Dublin
For a typical extension beam we quote from drawings within one working day, and fabrication usually takes a few days once the order is confirmed. Cost depends on the section size, the length, the connections and the finish, and steel prices themselves move with the market, so we price each job rather than quoting a rate per metre.
Send the engineer's drawing and the date your builder wants the steel on site, and we come back with a fixed price and a firm delivery date you can plan the lift around.
Want this priced for your own job? Send us your drawings or a photo and we will come back with a fixed price, usually within one working day.
Common questions
Need this done properly? Talk to the workshop.
Send us drawings, a sketch or a site photo. We come back with a fixed price and a firm lead time, usually within one working day.