What is a goalpost frame?
A goalpost frame is a steel beam supported on two steel posts - shaped like a football goal. Instead of resting on walls, the beam passes its load down the posts to baseplates bolted to new foundations.
When you need one
- Wide openings at the back of a house where there is little or no wall left on either side
- Bi-fold and sliding door openings in extensions
- Corner openings where two walls are removed
- Where existing walls or piers are not strong enough to take the load
How it is fixed
Each post sits on a steel baseplate, bolted to a concrete pad foundation. The beam connects to the posts with welded or bolted joints. Where a frame needs to resist sideways movement, the engineer may specify rigid moment connections or extra bracing.
Bolted or welded?
A fully welded frame is stiff and quick to install, but large and heavy to move. Bolted frames come in separate pieces, which is ideal when the frame has to be carried through a house.
Finishes and fire protection
Steel inside the house is usually primed and boxed in with fire-rated board. Where the posts sit close to an external wall or below the damp-proof course, galvanising is often specified for the post bases.
See our structural steelwork service or send your engineer's drawings for a free quote.