Padstones

Heavy-duty concrete padstones built for structural reliability

Concrete padstones are essential elements in structural construction, designed to distribute concentrated loads from beams, lintels, or steel columns evenly across blockwork or brickwork. Available in various sizes to suit your needs, our concrete padstones are reinforced and pre-cured to offer exceptional compressive strength and dimensional accuracy. These units are typically manufactured with dense concrete to prevent cracking, and they're commonly used wherever a structural beam ends or rests.

MGN Builders Merchants recommends choosing the correct padstone size based on the load of the supported beam and the type of masonry it rests on. Always consult your engineer’s structural loading specifications to ensure compliance and safety.

What are padstones and how are they used?

Padstones are high-strength concrete blocks placed beneath structural elements such as RSJs (rolled steel joists), universal beams, or concrete lintels. Their main function is to spread the load safely over a wider surface area of the supporting wall or structure. Without padstones, heavy concentrated loads may cause cracking, failure, or settlement in masonry.

They’re installed at key load-bearing junctions:

• Beneath the ends of steel or concrete beams

• Under heavy lintels across windows or doors

• At junctions where columns or posts meet brick or block walls

According to experts at mgnbm.co.uk, padstones also improve long-term durability by minimising point-load stress in wall systems, particularly in cavity wall construction or reinforced frame systems.

How to fit concrete padstones in new or existing walls

Fitting concrete padstones correctly is vital to structural integrity. The padstone must be set level and seated on full mortar bedding, ensuring contact across its entire base. Key installation steps include:

• Ensuring the wall is flat and clean at the bearing point

• Using strong, high-cement mortar (e.g. 1:3 cement to sand ratio)

• Checking that the padstone is aligned with the beam or lintel above

• Allowing adequate curing time before applying load

Where padstones are added into an existing wall, temporary supports (such as props or strongboys) may be needed while inserting the unit and making good the area around it. MGN recommends reviewing your project’s structural drawings and confirming load path calculations before fitting.

Product range and size availability

Whether you need small padstones for light lintels or larger reinforced ones for steel beams, mgnbm.co.uk stocks a range of sizes to suit your application. Sizes include:

• 215mm x 140mm x 102mm – suitable for cavity walls

• 300mm or 440mm lengths – ideal for larger beams or double-skin walls

• 215mm x 215mm or 440mm x 215mm for high-load distribution

All padstones are pre-cast from dense concrete, precision-moulded, and ready to install without additional processing.

Concrete padstones you can rely on

With robust compressive strength, moisture resistance, and a dense, durable finish, concrete padstones from mgnbm.co.uk are ideal for residential, commercial, and structural engineering projects. Their uniform shape, easy installation, and long service life make them a staple in load-bearing wall construction across the UK.

Whether you're working on an extension, RSJ installation, or beam replacement, our padstones are engineered to support the load, safely and reliably.