In every building construction project, framing is a process that should be taken seriously. For many years, builders have widely used steel framing for reasons that are hard to ignore. Yet, despite its reliability, some homeowners prefer to use wood instead of steel.
However, in order to use the best materials and products, consider the pros and cons using steel frames. Just like any other building strategies, lightweight steel framing has its pros and cons that you should consider when building but it does save a lot of time and labour if appropriately used.
There are many advantages of using steel in a building project that can’t be ignored and the positive points can ease your worries throughout your construction process.
When framing, the top choices for most construction companies are steel, concrete, and wood, depending on the type of construction being built. Steel frames are lighter than wood and concrete and are more durable. Despite it being light, it still serves its purpose like any other framing alternatives.
We all know that Australia is prone to bush fires, so steel framing is a good solution for your building. Steel is not flammable, and some manufacturers use a special steel coating for the frames to outlast extreme temperature. Steel frames become an essential advantage for reducing building damage in the event of a fire.
Lightweight steel frames can be easily modified to fit a building structure, plus there are different sizes of steel available to fit any construction. Steel is easy to adjust, to fabricate the correct size and weight to bear the build load.
Steel is also an efficient material that is 100% recyclable and resistant to corrosion, to minimise any worry about frame deterioration, unlike wood, for example.
This is one of the deciding factors – with steel frames, building owners have one less thing to worry. Termites won’t be able to damage the property in the long run.
Most of the time, structural steel is built with other components to withstand extreme weather conditions, like carbon. Some steel frame manufacturers add extra components such as hot zinc or excess powder for rust resistance to overcome heavy water exposure. So, weatherproof frames are a good investment.
If your project is on a tight budget, using steel frames might be problematic. This type of frame doesn’t come cheap, unlike wood and concrete alternatives. The key is to consider additional expenses such as the cost of specialised materials for upgrade requests. Also, self-tapping screws for fastening to your electric boxes and outlets are one thing to keep in mind with steel framing, and they can double up your labour costs.
Wood frames can be adjusted on-site should you accidentally missed the correct sizing. However, this case is not the same with steel frames. Since these lightweight steel frames are manufactured with specialised materials, they cannot simply be cut to fit if a measuring error occurs.
Some steel frames may not include the extra rust preventing components. Once your frame begins to rust, it will become an issue that cannot be ignored because rust can create structural hazards.
Even though steel has its different advantages, it cannot function as heavy support to cabinetry and other heavy hanging structures. Drywall, sheathing, insulation, and other supplementary woods are required to build to support.
Steel may be fire-resistant, but it also tends to attract extreme heat, due to its thermal conductivity, and home interiors can be affected during the hot summer. Fortunately, you can address this problem with centralised air-conditioning.
Steel framing is not to be done as a DIY project, a professional tradie should carry out the relevant work, if it is the right material. Installation of steel framing can be tricky too, with specific screw sets being required, so hiring steel fabrication and installers is practical and wise.
We understand your woes in finding the appropriate advice regarding lightweight steel frames. For all things steel framing, our team at Chainwire Fencing can help you in Newcastle and Hunter Valley. We have produced multiple frames such as:
We use only premium-grade steel in our products and manufact them right out of our facility here in Toronto, NSW. You wouldn’t want to settle for a team that will give you stress and unending worries with building projects like these. Visit us at chainwire-fencing.com, send us an email at admin@chainwire-fencing.com or call us on (02) 4023 5416 to schedule an appointment.
With high quality products and considerate service, we will work together with you to enhance your business and improve the efficiency. Please don't hesitate to contact us to get more details of Lightweight Steel Structure.