Hello
We have bought a 60s house, a one-story house with a basement. We now want to remove a fairly large part of the load-bearing wall, about 7m. We had someone who came to look and calculate and claims that we need to order a 12m steel beam that costs 35000 and cut it.
The question is, is this reasonable? Is it not possible to order to measure or how does it work? How much does a steel beam cost? Do prices vary significantly?
What type and dimension is the beam? Since the price of the beam depends partly on the type of beam and its weight (steel price per kilo), it sounds like he's suggesting a massive beam. Or did he also want to sell the beam to you?
However, it is true that wholesalers are reluctant to sell beams in anything other than full lengths, usually 12 meters. But some dealers sell half beams, i.e., 6 meters. But that doesn't help you either. Contact a mechanical workshop and see if you can buy the length you need. Sometimes they might have leftover beams.
What type and dimension is the beam? Since the price of the beam depends on both the type of beam and the weight (price per kilo for steel), it sounds like he's suggested a massive beam. Or did he also want to sell the beam to you?
However, it's true that wholesalers are reluctant to sell beams in anything other than full lengths, usually 12 meters. But some dealers do sell half beams, i.e., 6 meters. But that wouldn't help you either. Reach out to a mechanical workshop and see if you can buy the length you need. Sometimes they might have leftover beams.
From what I understood, the beam is supposed to be 7m long and 22cm high. I believe he's the one selling it. Where can I turn to check if the price is reasonable? I think it sounds ridiculously expensive at 35,000...
If it is about 22cm high, it is not a monster beam.
Assuming it is a HEA 240 (seems like a reasonable dimension for support), it costs about 1000 SEK/m (+ VAT) and is also available for purchase in 10m length.
Most mechanical workshops also have good discounts on this price, so I don't think you should pay around 35k, even if it includes cutting, VAT, and home delivery, half of that is still a high price.
Assuming it is an HEA 220, it weighs 50.5 kg/meter and costs 15.95/meter. An additional 187.50 for cutting is added, and you probably need to buy 10 meters. So a little over 8000.
Yes, the numbers you write sound considerably more reasonable. I should probably contact him and ask exactly what kind of beam he had in mind. And then check the price with someone else.
My experience is that it's better to buy directly from companies like Stena Stål and then cut on site. Cutting takes a few minutes with a larger angle grinder (which you can buy for a few hundred SEK at Bauhaus, Jula, etc.).
If you buy from a construction steel company, they will charge you for the entire beam anyway. Plus transport from Stena Stål to the company, a significant sum for cutting, they charge for disposing of the leftover part, etc. And of course, charge for transport to your construction site, but you will still have to cover the transport from Stena Stål to there.
In the builder's price, maybe it includes the work of getting the beam in place? It may require some special solutions to get it into an existing house.
This feels like a situation where you should take a step back and consider whether the benefits truly outweigh the costs and consequences. Is the free floor space really necessary all the way? A small pillar in the middle and suddenly you have a much simpler load case and significantly slimmer dimensions on the beam. Also, glulam is much cheaper and easier to work with than steel, which should be avoided as much as possible.
If we assume it is a HEA 220, it weighs 50.5 kg/meter and costs 15.95/meter. There is also an additional 187.50 for cutting, and you probably have to buy 10 meters. So a little over 8000.
Edit: Prices according to Stena Stål, [link]
You are missing quantity surcharge, shipping, and VAT.
This feels like a case where you should take a step back and consider whether the benefits really outweigh the costs and consequences. Is free floor space really needed all the way?...
Having an open space without pillars and other obstacles in the living/dining room is worth its weight in gold.
Our small living room, 5.1 m wide, wouldn't have been as nice with a post in the middle!
