Foundations & Structure
Structural Steel
Steel beams, columns and moment frames fabricated from reviewed shop drawings and erected to the engineer’s design, with inspections coordinated.
Overview
Structural steel opens up spaces wood and masonry cannot: long clear spans, large window walls, tall open rooms, mezzanines, and moment frames that resist wind without solid shear walls. Steel is designed precisely and fabricated off site, so success depends on getting dimensions, connections and anchor bolts right before anything is delivered.
We coordinate steel work from the engineer’s design through fabrication and erection. A steel fabricator prepares shop drawings from the structural drawings, the engineer of record reviews them, and the steel is built to those approved drawings and erected by a specialist steel erector. We set the anchor bolts and embeds in concrete to the right locations, sequence deliveries and cranes, and coordinate inspections.
Who it’s for
- Custom homes with long spans, cantilevers or large openings that wood or block cannot carry economically
- Commercial buildings, warehouses and mezzanines designed with steel framing
- Renovations replacing a bearing wall with a steel beam and columns
- Designs using moment frames to keep large glass walls free of solid bracing
- Canopies, equipment platforms and support frames for rooftop or site equipment
What’s included
Typically included
- Coordination of the steel scope between the structural drawings, the architect’s drawings and the fabricator
- Shop drawing management – submission to the engineer of record, review comments and resubmittals
- Setting anchor bolts, embed plates and base plate elevations in foundations and tie beams to the approved layout
- Scheduling fabrication and delivery to match site readiness
- Crane and rigging planning for erection, including site access and laydown area
- Erection of beams, columns, frames and connections by a specialist steel erector
- Coordination of required inspections, including any special inspection of welds and bolted connections
- Shop or field coatings for corrosion protection as specified
- Coordination of fireproofing where the building type requires it
Common exclusions
- Structural design, which is by a licensed structural engineer
- Miscellaneous metals such as decorative railings and stairs unless included in the steel package
- Fireproofing materials themselves where a separate specialty scope applies
- Concrete foundations that receive the steel, priced as foundation work
Every proposal lists its own inclusions and exclusions in writing.
Materials, design options & upgrades
How pricing works
Structural steel is normally priced per project, based on the steel takeoff from the structural drawings – member sizes, weights, connection types and finishes – plus fabrication, delivery, crane time and erection labor. The fabricator’s quote, built from the drawings, is a core part of the estimate.
Connection design and coatings can change cost significantly even when the tonnage stays the same, so the estimate is refined once shop drawings are prepared.
What changes the cost
- Total tonnage and member sizes
- Connection complexity, including moment connections and field welding
- Coatings – primer, galvanizing or high-performance systems
- Crane size, access and the number of lifts
- Exposed steel requiring architectural finish standards
- Fireproofing requirements by building type
- Steel market pricing at the time of order
If this work is part of a larger project, it’s priced within that project’s budget — please don’t add separate estimates together. Read the pricing guide.
Typical stages
Design review
We review the structural drawings with the engineer and confirm how steel meets foundations, masonry and framing.
Shop drawings
The fabricator prepares shop drawings and the engineer of record reviews them before fabrication starts.
Embeds and anchor bolts
Anchor bolts and embed plates are set during concrete work and surveyed for location and elevation.
Fabrication and delivery
Steel is fabricated, coated and delivered in erection sequence to the site.
Erection and connections
The erector sets, plumbs and connects members, and required inspections of welds and bolts are completed.
Touch-up and handoff
Coatings are touched up, fireproofing is coordinated if needed, and framing or decking proceeds.
What affects the schedule
- Shop drawing preparation and engineer review must be complete before fabrication
- Fabricator workload and mill availability affect delivery
- Crane availability and lifting in wind or lightning conditions
- Foundations and embeds must be in place and verified before erection
- Inspection scheduling for welds and connections
Questions & answers
Why does steel need shop drawings?
The structural drawings show what the engineer requires; shop drawings show exactly how each piece is cut, drilled and connected. The engineer reviews them so the fabricated steel matches the design intent before anything is built.
Does steel rust in Florida’s climate?
Unprotected steel corrodes, especially near the coast. That is why coatings are specified – primers for steel enclosed in the building, and galvanizing or heavier systems for exposed steel.
Can steel be added to an existing house?
Yes. Steel beams are often used to remove bearing walls or open rooms. The engineer designs the beam, posts and footings, and we plan access, shoring and installation as a structural modification.
Start here
Planning structural steel?
A short form — three steps, a few minutes. Share plans or photos if you have them. We’ll review it and follow up using the contact details you provide.