Steel guides
Steel guides & advice
Practical, plain-English guides from our Liverpool yard: steel sections and sizes, finishes, delivery and how to get an accurate quote. Written for builders, fabricators and homeowners across the North West.
Steel Beams for Builders: Extensions, Openings and Loft Conversions
How we supply steel beams to builders and steel erectors for extensions, bifold openings, loft conversions and knock-throughs across the North West.
Ordering Steel for a Rear Extension: A Step-by-Step Checklist
A simple checklist for ordering steel for a rear extension in Liverpool and the North West, from engineer’s calculations to delivery day.
RSJ vs Universal Beam: What Should I Ask For?
RSJ, UB or steel beam? What the names mean when you’re ordering, and why the size on your engineer’s calculations is what really matters.
What Size Steel Beam Do I Need?
Why your steel beam size has to come from a structural engineer, what they need from you, and how to order the right beam once you have it.
Structural Drawings: The Role of Your Engineer’s Drawings When Ordering Steel
What structural drawings are, who produces them, what we take from them and how they fit into ordering structural steel in Liverpool and the North West.
What to Send for a Fast, Accurate Steel Quote
The information that gets you a quick, accurate steel quote: drawings, section sizes, lengths, processing, finish, delivery postcode and timescale.
How Steel Beam Delivery Works: A Guide for Builders and Homeowners
What to expect when steel beams are delivered to site: ordering, access, timing, offloading and checks, across Liverpool and the North West.
Primed vs Galvanised Steel: Which Finish Do I Need?
Bare, primed or hot-dip galvanised steel? How each finish protects against rust, where to use it, and what to ask before you order.
UB vs UC: What’s the Difference Between a Universal Beam and a Universal Column?
Universal beams (UB) and universal columns (UC) explained: shape, how sizes are written, where each is used and how to order them in the UK.
Need help choosing steel?
Alexander Steel is an independent steel stockholder in Edge Hill, Liverpool, supplying universal beams, columns, channels, angles, hollow sections, flat bar and sheet, cut to length and delivered across Merseyside and the North West. Send us your engineer’s drawing or steel schedule and we will price exactly what is specified.