Steel for an attic conversion in Dublin
Attic conversions are one of the most common reasons a Dublin homeowner ends up buying steel. The roof was never designed to carry a floor and people, so beams go in to take that load down to the walls.
What the steel is doing up there
Two things usually need support. The new floor has to span between load bearing walls without relying on the old ceiling joists, which are far too light. And if the roof structure is being cut for a dormer or a stairs opening, the rafters that are removed need their load picked up by a beam.
The engineer will normally specify a pair of floor beams and a ridge or purlin beam, sometimes with steel posts down to a wall below. Every house is different, which is why a standard answer to how much steel an attic needs does not exist.
Getting the steel into the attic
This is the part that shapes the design. A beam has to travel up a narrow Dublin stairs, round a return, and through a small hatch, or else come in through the roof once slates are stripped. Weight matters as much as length, because it is usually being carried by hand.
Where access is genuinely tight, engineers often split a beam into two or three bolted sections with splice plates. We fabricate those splices with pre drilled holes so they can be bolted up in the attic without any cutting or welding in the roof space.
Fire protection and finishes
Attic conversions in Ireland have specific fire requirements, and exposed structural steel in an escape route may need to be protected, typically by boarding it out in plasterboard. Your certifier will confirm what applies to your layout.
From our side the steel is supplied primed as standard. If it is going to be visible in the finished room, say so and we will improve the surface finish and weld dressing accordingly.
Cost and lead time
Attic steel is generally a smaller order than an extension frame, and we usually turn it around within a few days of receiving the drawing and the order.
Send the engineer's drawing plus a photo of the stairs and hatch. We will tell you whether the beam as specified can physically be delivered to where it needs to go.
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.