How Much Does It Cost To Have An RSJ Installed
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- 19-12-2022

How much does it cost to have an RSJ installed? This article looks at the supply costs of an RSJ and additional costs of installing an RSJ.
What is an RSJ?
Firstly, the most asked question with RSJs, what does it stand for? RSJ stands for a rolled steel joist. Load-bearing and non-load-bearing walls are made when a home is in the process of being constructed.
The difference between the two is that load-bearing walls are designed to support the entire building's structural weight, whereas non-load-bearing walls are simply designed to separate the different rooms of the property.
If you want to create an open plan space in a building by either changing or removing a load-bearing wall, then you will first need to add a steel RSJ beam in order to absorb all the weight.
If the RSJ steel beam is not put into place to absorb the weight, then the property will collapse because it will not have all the necessary supports that are needed.
Ensuring that an RSJ is installed correctly involves a lot of complex calculations that need to be worked out, as well as a lot of time and general skill.
For this work to be completed, an experienced builder or structural engineer will need to access the site where the work is planned and run a full evaluation.
Steel beam calculations will need to be carried out in order to determine the type of wall that they are going to be altering, the length of the beam that they will need, and the amount of weight that the beam will need to sustain.
All this then affects the amount that you will need to pay in order to have the RSJ installed on the property.
What are the Supply Costs of an RSJ?
If you are simply interested in the price of just an RSJ, then you might want to know how much a steel beam RSJ costs per metre.
On average, an RSJ costs between £50 to £100 per metre. But depending on which exact RSJ you are looking for, the cost will be either raised or lowered. Much like with all construction work, you can buy an RSJ as a supply alone, but it is not suggested that you actually carry out all the work yourself.
Only an expert specialist can carry out the important calculations that will assist in working out how much weight can be spread throughout your RSJ.
All the calculations associated with establishing an RSJ within a property are highly complex and this is why it is always highly recommended that you have a professional install an RSJ.
The bullet points below should show all the supply-only expenses for the various different items that you would need for an RSJ-type project.
- For Universal beams, the cost per metre is between £50 to £120
- For Universal columns, the cost per metre is between £50 to £120
- For Double beams, the cost per metre is between £50 to £100
- For Parallel flange channels, the cost per metre is between £30 to £100
- For T-Beams, the cost per metre is between £8 to £20
- For Lintels, the cost per metre is between £16 to £22
- For Special Lintels, the cost per metre is between £40 to £60

Why should I install an RSJ?
RSJs can provide crucial structural support during the process of constructing a new build or an extension. They form part of the skeleton of the building.
If you are living in a home where you would like to remove a load-bearing wall from the property in order to extend a kitchen or dining room, for example, then installing an RSJ can provide the same level of support to the property as the wall that has been removed.
The amount that this structural steelwork can cost will vary significantly depending on your project. The size of the RSJ required, and the area of the wall that was removed will also have a major impact on the cost of the RSJ.
What are the Types of RSJ
One of the fantastic parts of having an RSJ installed is that they offer complete maximum load-bearing support while still using the minimum amount of steel necessary. RSJs are available as single beams, double beams, and in a huge range of other distinctive shapes used in construction, including the following:
I Beams: Commonly, RSJs are referred to as being I beams. This is because an I-shaped beam is the standard shape. They are shaped like the letter I with a flange at the top of the beam and at the bottom.
H Beams: This is very similar to an I Beam, but H beams are much wider in shape. This means that they are better suited for longer lengths.
T Beams: These are named T beams because they do not have a bottom flange. T beams are usually cheaper than the other options but not as strong as an H Beam or an I Beam. Sometimes these are referred to as flange beams.
C-Section Beams: Commonly known as being channel beams, this shape of the beam is like an upside-down U.

RSJs can be cut to be any size that you wish and are designed in order to support a large variety of different weights. Depending on the calculations done by a structural engineer, a builder will be able to choose the appropriate type of RSJ for your specific project and ensure that you are paying a fair cost for your home's steel RSJ.
There is always the alternative option of using concrete lintels instead of the usual steel lintels. But you should keep in mind that although this material is cheaper, it is not recommended for use with load-bearing over large spaces
Tradesmen Costs for Installing an RSJ
Before you receive an estimate for your RSJ installation, you should keep in mind that the structural engineer's expert calculations are a necessary part of the process. You will also need a professionally trained builder to carry out the work according to all of the engineer's specifications.
The issue with this kind of work is that, no matter how careful the builders may be, this form of labour will always lead to a tremendous amount of mess being made. It is unavoidable. The resulting mess will mean that extensive cleaning will be compulsory, but also the process of re-plastering and re-decorating. All of this adds even more to the overall expense of the project.
The majority of the work can be carried out by any competent builder, but depending on where exactly the RSJ needs to be installed, you might also need to use the service of a structural engineer, an electrician, or a plumber. A lot of people choose just to do their own final decorating, but others would rather employ the services of a painter and decorator.
The cost of labour in order to install an RSJ is decided by the overall size of the job. The labour for a single doorway 1m RSJ will cost between £400 and £450. For a double doorway 2m RSJ, then the cost will be between £550 and £600. For a large open plan 4m RSJ, the cost will be between £700 and £800.
Do I need planning permission to install an RSJ?
No, you do not. This is because you are making an internal change to a domestic building.
Although the answer is usually no, if you want to be certain, you are best to contact your local planning authority.
If you are living within a listed building, then any work that you do will need to have gone through listed building consent. For more information and specifics on this, you should again speak to your local planning authority.

Are you looking for RSJ steel beam suppliers in London, Essex, Kent and the surrounding areas? Follow the link below to discuss your project.