GUIDES
Steel guides
& straight answers
Costs, standards and how steel projects actually work, written by the workshop that fabricates them.
CE Marking, UKCA and Structural Steel Marking on Site (UK Guide)
A plain-English guide to what CE marking and UKCA mean for structural steelwork, why BS EN 1090 sits behind them, how execution classes are decided, and what the marks painted on the steel on site actually tell you.
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CostHow Much Does a Steel Staircase Cost in the UK?
There is no single price for a steel staircase: the cost is driven by the design, so this guide explains what actually moves the number and how to get a firm figure for your project.
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CostHow Much Does It Cost to Install an RSJ? (UK 2026 Guide)
The honest answer is that an RSJ price depends on the beam your structural engineer specifies and the work needed to fit it, so here is what actually moves the number.
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CostSteel Frame Building Cost per m² (UK Guide)
A plain-English guide to why steel frame buildings are costed per m2, what pushes that figure up or down, and how a bare frame differs from a full design-and-build.
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CostMezzanine Floor Costs: A UK Guide
Mezzanine floor cost is driven by floor area, the loading rating set by the structural calculation, the number of levels, decking, access and the compliance extras, so the only accurate figure is a quote against your drawings.
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TechnicalWhat Is Steel Fabrication? (And What a Fabricator Does)
A plain-English guide to what steel fabrication is, what a steel fabricator actually does, how it differs from structural steelwork, and what to look for when you choose one.
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TechnicalUniversal Beam Sizes Explained (UK Section Guide)
UK structural beams are sized by a national system of serial sections, and the right one for your job comes from a structural engineer's calculation, not a chart, so here is how the naming actually works.
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CostSteel Framed Equestrian Building Costs: A UK Guide
The cost of a steel framed equestrian building is driven by the building type and size, the clear span and eaves height, the number of stables or bays, the cladding and roofing, the internal fit-out and the groundworks, so the only accurate figure is a quote against your plans.
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PlanningSteel Building Planning Permission (UK Guide)
A plain-English guide to whether your steel building needs planning permission, plus how foundations are designed and how long a steel frame really lasts.
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TechnicalSteel Framed Extensions: A Homeowner's Guide
Most extensions use steel in two ways: beams to carry loads over openings, and a steel frame where masonry cannot span a large opening or wrap-around, and here is how each works.
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TechnicalBarn Conversions: Structural Steel Frames
A clear guide to how structural steel frames and beams carry a barn conversion: replacing failing structure, opening up spaces and supporting new floors and roofs without losing the original character.
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TechnicalStructural Steel Grades: S275 vs S355 Explained
S275 and S355 are the two structural steel grades you will see most often on UK drawings, and the number is simply the minimum yield strength in N/mm2, so here is what that means for your project.
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TechnicalHot Rolled vs Cold Rolled Steel: Differences Explained
Hot rolled and cold rolled steel are the same metal processed at different temperatures, and the choice changes the finish, tolerance, strength, cost and the jobs each one suits.
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TechnicalHow Long Does a Structural Steel Project Take?
A plain-English walk through the stages of a structural steel project, from first enquiry to the final bolt, and the real factors that decide how long it takes.
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PlanningAgricultural Building Permitted Development Rights Explained
A plain-English overview of permitted development rights for agricultural buildings, why they come with strict conditions, and why you should always confirm with your Local Planning Authority before you build.
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TechnicalMezzanine Floor Building Regulations: A UK Guide
An industrial or commercial mezzanine is a new floor level, so it usually needs Building Regulations approval covering fire protection, structural loading and a protected means of escape, with the exact requirements set by Building Control for your building.
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TechnicalRSJ vs Steel Beam vs Lintel: What's the Difference?
RSJ, steel beam and lintel are often used as if they mean the same thing, but they describe different members for different jobs, so here is what each one actually is and when you need it.
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TrustBS EN 1090 Explained: The UK Structural Steel Standard
A plain-English deep-dive into BS EN 1090, the standard behind UK structural steelwork, covering what 1090-1 and 1090-2 each control and what working to it actually demands of a fabricator.
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TrustHow to Choose a Steel Fabricator (UK Buyer's Guide)
A practical buyer's checklist for picking a UK steel fabricator: the standards, the questions to ask, and the red flags that tell you to walk away.
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TechnicalHow to Build a Mezzanine Floor (UK Guide)
Building a steel mezzanine floor runs from assessing the space and its intended use, through structural design and Building Control approval, to fabricating the frame and installing the decking, stairs and fire protection in sequence.
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TechnicalMild Steel vs Stainless Steel: Which to Choose
Mild steel and stainless steel are the two metals we fabricate, and the right choice comes down to corrosion resistance, strength, finish, cost and where the steel will live.
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PlanningPlanning Permission for Stables & a Menage (UK)
A plain-English guide to why stables, field shelters and a menage are treated differently from agricultural buildings for planning, and why most equestrian projects need to go through your Local Planning Authority.
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TechnicalS355 Steel Explained: Strength, Grades and When Engineers Specify It
S355 steel is a structural steel grade made to BS EN 10025-2 with a minimum yield strength of 355 N/mm2, and it is the grade a structural engineer reaches for when a section needs to carry more load without getting bigger.
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TechnicalS275 Steel Explained: Properties, Uses and When It Is Enough
S275 steel is a general-purpose structural steel grade made to BS EN 10025-2, with a minimum yield strength of 275 N/mm2, so here is what that means for your build and when it is enough.
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TechnicalStructural Steel Grades Chart: S235 vs S275 vs S355 (UK)
S235, S275 and S355 are the three structural steel grades most used in UK fabrication, and the number after the S is simply the steel's minimum yield strength in N/mm2, so this chart sets out exactly how they differ and where each one is used.
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TechnicalS355JR vs S355J0 vs S355J2: What the Impact Sub-Grades Mean
S355JR, S355J0 and S355J2 all share the same 355 N/mm2 minimum yield strength; the letters describe how much impact energy the steel absorbs at a set test temperature, not how strong it is.
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TechnicalHardox vs S355: Wear Plate and Structural Steel Are Not the Same Job
Hardox is SSAB's trademarked abrasion-resistant wear plate, chosen for hardness; S355 is a structural grade to BS EN 10025-2, chosen for guaranteed strength and toughness in load-bearing design, and the two solve different problems.
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PlanningMezzanine Floor Fire Regulations (UK): Approved Document B Explained
Fire regulations for a UK mezzanine floor sit under Approved Document B of the Building Regulations 2010, and whether your mezzanine needs fire-resisting construction depends on its size, its use and how many people work on or below it.
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TechnicalMezzanine Floor Load Capacity: How Much Weight Can It Hold?
A mezzanine floor commonly carries 2.5 kN/m2 for office use up to 4.8 to 9.6 kN/m2 or more for storage, but the true figure for your floor comes from a structural engineer's calculation, not a table.
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PlanningDo You Need Planning Permission for a Mezzanine Floor? (UK)
Most mezzanine floors built inside an existing building do not need planning permission, but they always need Building Regulations approval, and a retail mezzanine adding 200 square metres or more of floorspace usually needs planning permission as well.
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TechnicalWarehouse, Office or Retail Mezzanine: What Changes and Why
Warehouse, office and retail mezzanine floors share the same steel principles, but the loading, fire protection, guarding and sometimes planning route change with what happens on top of the floor.
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TrustExecution Classes EXC1 to EXC4 Explained: Which One Does Your Steelwork Need?
Execution classes EXC1 to EXC4 are the four levels of stringency set out in BS EN 1090-2, running from EXC1 (least demanding) to EXC4 (most demanding), and they decide how tightly a fabricator's welding, inspection and paperwork are controlled on your project.
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CostIndoor Riding Arena Cost (UK): What Drives the Price of a Steel Framed Arena
An indoor riding arena cost is driven by size, clear span, eaves height, cladding, the riding surface and groundworks, so a quote against your plans is the only accurate figure.
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CostSteel Balcony Cost (UK): What Actually Sets the Price
How much a steel balcony costs depends on the type, size, balustrade, decking, finish and how it fixes back into the building, so the only accurate figure comes from a quote against your drawings.
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PlanningJuliet Balcony Regulations (UK): Height, Loads, Glass and Planning
In the UK, a Juliet balcony is treated as guarding under Building Regulations Approved Document K, which sets a minimum barrier height, gap limits and load requirements, while planning permission is usually not required because there is no walk-out platform.
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