Steel beam quote template for UK knock-throughs.
The steel is the cheap part. The calcs, propping and making good are where the money goes.
Free knock-through quote template for UK builders. Covers the engineer's calculations, Building Control, propping, the steel and padstones, installation, making good, electrics, flooring, stage payments and exclusions.
What should a knock-through or steel beam quote include?
A knock-through quote should list the structural engineer's calculations and Building Control as separate items, then temporary propping and protection, removing the wall, the steel beam and padstones sized to the engineer's design, installation and fire protection to the steel if needed, making good to walls, ceiling and floor, moving any sockets or switches, decoration and waste. State that the steel size follows the engineer's design and that changes to it are priced variations.
Source note: Use this structure for a steel beam quotation, then confirm the engineer's design, Building Control requirements, site conditions, supplier prices and subcontractor allowances for the actual job. This is not structural advice.
Knock-through estimate example: 3.5m opening with a steel beam
Fictional arithmetic example for a 3.5m opening in a load-bearing wall between kitchen and dining room. Not a price guide and not structural advice: the steel and padstones must follow a structural engineer's design and Building Control sign-off. VAT not included.
| Cost or calculation | Amount |
|---|---|
| Engineer's calculations and Building Control | £800.00 |
| Steel beam, padstones and installation | £1,040.00 |
| Propping, protection, preliminaries and brickwork | £1,455.00 |
| Making good: plaster, floor, electrics and decoration | £959.00 |
| Total cost | £4,254.00 |
| Markup (25% of cost) | £1,063.50 |
| Selling price before VAT | £5,317.50 |
Markup is calculated on cost. Gross margin is calculated on the selling price: this example gives 20.0% gross margin before VAT.
Check markup and margin with your own figuresCalcs and approval first
The structural engineer's calculations and Building Control (or a Building Notice) as separate lines, with who arranges them.
Temporary works
Acrows and strongboys, protection and dust sheeting, and how long the props stay.
The steel
Beam, padstones, packing and any fire protection, sized to the engineer's design. Use an allowance until the design is back and say so.
Removing the wall
Labour, waste and muck-away, and any services in the wall (pipes, cables).
Making good
Plaster to the beam and reveals, the ceiling and floor junction, skirting, moving sockets and switches, and decoration.
Exclusions and stages
Party wall matters, asbestos, unknown services, client-chosen flooring, and the payment stages.
What to do before you send the price.
Step 1
Get or allow for the engineer's design and Building Control.
Step 2
Price propping, protection and removal.
Step 3
Add the steel, padstones and installation.
Step 4
Add making good, electrics and decoration.
Step 5
Add overhead, contingency, margin, VAT, stages and exclusions.
Quote structure
Knock-through quote template.
Use the structure on this page to prepare your steel beam quotation. The email template is not available yet.
Keep pricing the job properly.
Extension quote template
Set the knock-through within the wider extension scope and payment stages.
Read guide
Builder quote template
Use the wider builder quote structure for residential work.
Read guide
How to price variations on building jobs
Agree changes to the design and scope before carrying out extra work.
Read guide
Construction payment schedule template
Set clear payment stages against the work and materials.
Read guide
Quick answers.
Do I need an engineer for a steel beam?
For a load-bearing wall, Building Control will normally want structural calculations. Price them as a line or exclude them clearly.
How do I quote before the steel is sized?
Use a marked allowance and state it will be adjusted to the engineer's design.
Should making good be included?
Spell it out. Plaster, ceiling, floor and decoration are where disputes start if they're left vague.
Is the knock-through quote template free?
Yes. Use the structure here. The email template is not available yet.
Who is this template for?
It is for UK builders and trade businesses checking a real job before they create a saved estimate or client quote.