Steelwork guides, in plain English
Straight answers to the questions homeowners, builders and architects ask us most - from what a steel beam costs to which finish your steel needs.
How much does a steel beam cost? A UK pricing guide
What really drives the price of a steel beam or frame - and how to keep it down.
Read the guideRSJ vs universal beam: what is the difference?
RSJ, UB, UC, PFC - what the terms mean and what the numbers on a drawing tell you.
Read the guideDo I need building regulations approval for a steel beam?
When you need building control, fire protection and a party wall notice for steelwork.
Read the guideGalvanising vs painting: choosing the right finish for steel
Primer, hot-dip galvanising, powder coating or intumescent - which finish does your steel need?
Read the guideBS EN 1090 explained: why your steel fabricator should be certified
What BS EN 1090, UKCA marking and execution classes mean for the steel on your project.
Read the guideHow to get an accurate steelwork quote, fast
What to send for a fast, accurate steel quotation - and what a good quote should include.
Read the guideStaircase regulations explained: Approved Document K
Rise, going, pitch, headroom, handrails and guarding: the Part K rules for stairs.
Read the guideAdding a steel balcony: planning, regulations and design
Planning, building regulations, guarding, drainage and finishes for steel balconies.
Read the guideDo I need planning permission for a mezzanine floor?
When a mezzanine floor needs planning permission, building regulations and fire protection.
Read the guideSteel beams for loft conversions: what you need to know
Why loft conversions need steel, what the beams do, and how they get into the roof.
Read the guideGoalpost frames explained: steel for wide openings
What a goalpost frame is, when you need one, and how it is fixed and installed.
Read the guidePadstones explained: where your steel beam meets the wall
What padstones do, what they are made of, and why bearing length matters.
Read the guideHow to read steel section sizes
What 203x133x25 UB, 100x100x5 SHS and 100x10 FB mean on a drawing.
Read the guideS275 vs S355: structural steel grades explained
What S275, S355, J0, J2 and K2 mean, and why grades can't be swapped casually.
Read the guideFire protection for structural steelwork
Fire resistance periods, intumescent paint, boards and how protection is specified.
Read the guideWhat happens when steel beams are installed
What happens on the day your steel beams go in, and how to prepare.
Read the guideHow to choose a steel fabricator
Certification, execution class, insurance, drawings and the questions to ask.
Read the guidePowder coating vs painting steel
Powder coat, wet paint and duplex systems compared for gates, railings and balconies.
Read the guideFrequently asked questions
The Pro Steel Solutions team - a BS EN 1090 certified structural steelwork and metalwork contractor based in Kent.
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