š Plano TX | Houston | Austin
š 214.624.5200 (DFW)
š 713.322.3908 (Houston)
š 512.641.9555 (Austin)
ā [email protected]
PE-specified steel and LVL beam installation for Austin homeowners ā Hyde Park, Mueller, and Travis Heights and beyond.
Behind every successful open-concept conversion in Austin is a properly engineered beam. Whether you're opening a wall between the kitchen and living room, creating a pass-through to the dining area, or spanning a large opening for a glass door system, the beam that replaces the wall is the most critical element of the project. Load Bearing Wall Pros installs structural beams in Austin homes with the precision that only comes from having our own in-house Professional Engineer on every job.
In Austin's A mix of 1950sā1970s ranch-style pier-and-beam homes in central neighborhoods and 1990sā2010s craftsman and traditional brick/limestone slab homes in newer areas homes ā particularly in established neighborhoods like Hyde Park and Mueller ā beam installation involves more than dropping a big piece of lumber in place. The beam must be sized correctly for the span and load, the posts below must transfer that load to the slab or foundation, and all of these connections must be documented, inspected, and approved by the city. Our PE handles the calculations and produces PE-stamped structural drawings that meet your city's building department requirements ā ready to submit with your permit application. The permit is the homeowner's responsibility under Texas law.
We install both steel wide-flange beams (for maximum strength with minimum depth) and LVL engineered lumber beams (for shorter spans where wood is preferred). The right choice for your Austin home depends on your specific span, what's above, and your aesthetic goals ā decisions we make with your PE-stamped drawings, not guesswork.
From Travis Heights to Allandale and across Travis County, Load Bearing Wall Pros has installed hundreds of structural beams in Texas homes. Call 512.641.9555 for a same-day ballpark on your Austin beam installation project.
Our in-house Professional Engineer designs every structural solution specific to your Austin home ā no outsourced engineering, no delays waiting for a third-party firm.
Our in-house Professional Engineer provides PE-stamped structural drawings that meet your city's building department requirements ā ready to submit with your permit application.
We carry a $2 million general liability policy explicitly covering structural wall removal and beam installation ā protection that most general contractors simply don't have.
Professional containment and negative air systems keep your Austin home clean during construction ā we protect your floors, furniture, and air quality throughout the project.
Every structural project we complete in Austin is backed by a written, transferable lifetime structural warranty ā the strongest guarantee in the industry.
Call us today and we'll give you a ballpark price range the same day based on your description ā no waiting days for someone to call you back.
The choice between a steel beam and an LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) beam is one of the most consequential decisions in any structural project. In Austin, where A mix of 1950sā1970s ranch-style pier-and-beam homes in central neighborhoods and 1990sā2010s craftsman and traditional brick/limestone slab homes in newer areas homes are common, the right beam type depends on span length, the loads being carried, ceiling configuration, and your renovation goals.
Steel beams ā typically wide-flange sections designated by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) ā offer unmatched strength-to-depth ratios. A W10x26 (10 inches deep, 26 pounds per foot) can carry substantial loads over spans of 12ā16 feet while staying relatively shallow. For longer spans ā 16 to 24 feet ā we frequently specify W12x40 or W12x50 sections. Steel beams are ideal when minimizing beam depth is critical, such as in Hyde Park homes where ceiling height is already a concern.
LVL beams (Laminated Veneer Lumber) are engineered wood products that offer excellent structural performance for spans up to 14ā16 feet. They're easier to work with in tight spaces, don't require a crane for installation, and are slightly more affordable. In newer Austin homes like those found in Mueller and Travis Heights, LVL beams are frequently the right call for spans where you want the beam to sit flush inside the ceiling framing.
All beam specifications are engineered and stamped by our in-house Professional Engineer ā no third-party delays, no spec sheets handed to a contractor without oversight. Every beam we install is sized for the actual load, not estimated or averaged from a similar project.
Our Austin team serves all of Austin ā from neighborhoods near UT Austin campus to residential areas throughout the city. We're familiar with Austin's construction styles, permit requirements, and building department processes, which means thorough engineering documentation and fewer surprises on your project.
Permit Note: City of Austin Development Services Department requires permits for structural modifications; residential permits are reviewed within 5ā15 business days depending on complexity under Austin's online permitting system. Load Bearing Wall Pros provides PE-stamped structural engineering plans that meet local code requirements and are ready to submit with your permit application. Permitting is the homeowner's responsibility ā under Texas state law, homeowners can pull their own permits or hire a general contractor.
We also provide structural beam installation services in nearby communities: Cedar Park, TX, Round Rock, TX, Pflugerville, TX, Lakeway, TX.
Whether you're near Barton Springs Pool or on the other side of Austin, our team comes to you. Same-day ballpark estimates by phone or text, free on-site assessments, and a complete turn-key service from engineering through final inspection.
Most structural beam installation projects in Austin fall in the $3,500ā$9,000 range, depending on the scope of work, wall length, beam size required, and whether utilities need to be rerouted. Homes in neighborhoods like Hyde Park and Mueller ā with their A mix of 1950sā1970s ranch-style pier-and-beam homes in central neighborhoods and 1990sā2010s craftsman and traditional brick/limestone slab homes in newer areas construction ā sometimes involve additional complexity that affects pricing. We provide a same-day ballpark estimate based on your description, and a firm quote after our on-site assessment. Call us at 512.641.9555 to get started.
Yes ā virtually all structural modifications in Austin require a building permit. City of Austin Development Services Department requires permits for structural modifications; residential permits are reviewed within 5ā15 business days depending on complexity under Austin's online permitting system. Load Bearing Wall Pros provides PE-stamped structural engineering plans that are designed to meet local code requirements and are ready to submit with your permit application. The permit itself is the homeowner's responsibility ā under Texas state law, homeowners can pull their own permits, or you can hire a general contractor to handle the permitting process. Our engineering drawings include all the structural details the building department needs for approval.
Beam sizing in Austin depends on the span (how wide the opening is), the load carried by the beam (roof only, one floor above, or two floors above), and the species and grade of lumber (or the steel section). Our in-house PE performs load calculations specific to your home ā not generic span tables. A typical 12-foot opening in a A mix of 1950sā1970s ranch-style pier-and-beam homes in central neighborhoods and 1990sā2010s craftsman and traditional brick/limestone slab homes in newer areas home in Austin with one floor above might require a W10x26 steel beam or a triple-ply 1.75"x14" LVL. We'll give you the exact spec after the structural assessment.
Steel wide-flange beams offer the best strength-to-depth ratio ā ideal for long spans (14+ feet) or situations where you need to minimize beam depth to maintain ceiling height. LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) beams are engineered wood products that work well for shorter spans (up to 14ā16 feet), are easier to handle in tight spaces, and can sometimes be installed flush with ceiling framing. In Austin homes, our engineer recommends the right choice based on your specific span, loads, and ceiling configuration ā not on what's easier or cheaper to install.
Before any existing wall is touched, our crew installs temporary shoring walls on both sides of the work area. These shores carry the structural load while we remove the existing wall framing and set the new beam in position. In Austin homes, we also take precautions to protect finished flooring (hardwood, tile, carpet) using floor protection systems during the entire process. Once the beam is set, posts are installed, connections are made per the PE drawings, and only then are the temporary shores removed. This sequence is non-negotiable on every project.
Call, text, or email us for a same-day ballpark estimate. Or fill out our contact form for a FREE onsite visit to your Austin home.
Communication was exemplary. We were notified and confirmed the day before what to prep and what to expect. Team arrived precisely on time. They protected our floors, taped off areas of the house to keep it dust free.
They are professional, efficient, and reasonably priced. We went through the City Permit and they helped us throughout the process even when City was very particular. Very happy with the result.
