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What Is the Best Option Between Timber and Steel Frames?

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What Is the Best Option Between Timber and Steel Frames?

A Building's frame is its Backbone, So it must be safe and secure.

When building in Australia, you have the choice of steel or timber frames and trusses, each with its own set of pros and disadvantages.


When choosing between the two options, keep the following in mind:


  • Material and labour costs
  • The completed product's durability
  • Any guarantees?
  • Sustainability in the environment
  • What will work best for your site?
  • Any extraordinary ecological circumstances, such as fire, storm, or corrosion
  • Adaptability and the ability to make modifications throughout the construction phase



The advantages and disadvantages of using timber framing or steel frames are listed below. 



STEEL FRAMES


Steel frames and trusses offer several advantages to builders, designers, and homeowners. Here is a list of the connected benefits and drawbacks of steel frames:


Weight and Power


A steel-framed home is usually lighter than a timber-framed house; steel with the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any building material. This indicates that steel parts are more durable while adding less weight. Steel offers the best strength-to-weight ratio of any residential construction material now available. Steel frames and trusses give a solid structure for your home that will not bend or flex.

 

Build Efficiency


Steel frames and trusses are pre-engineered to exact specifications at our plant before being transported out, and ready for building. This prefabrication considerably speeds up the construction process, saving both time and money in labour expenditures.


Pest Resistant


Steel is completely resistant to pests like termites and borers, making it a dependable choice for any structure.


Durability


When compared to timber frames, steel framing provides unrivaled durability. It will not warp or bend like timber, so the lines of your construction will remain straight and true throughout time.


Eligible applicants who construct using TRUECORE® Steel frames will be guaranteed an astounding 50-year warranty.


Fire Resistant


Steel is completely incombustible, making it an ideal construction material for bushfire-prone locations.


Environmentally Friendly


Light Steel Framing can gain points toward green certification schemes for builders. A high-quality Light Steel Frame may help you build an airtight, well-insulated, energy-efficient house.


Disadvantages


Typically, the cost is viewed as the primary drawback of building with a steel frame, and there is some truth to this belief since the raw cost of steel is higher than that of timber. However, because of the precision and quality of the prefabrication, assembly time is greatly reduced, resulting in thousands of dollars in labour savings as well as a reduction in overall build time. Steel's longevity will save you money on maintenance and repairs. In many circumstances, insurance prices are also lower for homes built with steel frames.


The biggest downside is the environmental cost of producing steel in terms of energy use.



TIMBER FRAMES


There is no need for a study to verify that timber frames operate. Hundreds of years of construction history can attest to this. Timber house frames are the most used frame and truss material in Australia.


Here is a summary of the linked benefits and drawbacks of timber frames:


Easily accessible


Timber farming may be easily obtained from any local hardware or construction supply store, allowing for speedy on-site framing. However, because timber framing is constructed on-site, mistakes may occur, resulting in waste and increased labour expenses.


Utilization Ease


Almost all builders are highly knowledgeable and experienced with timber framing. Timber may be quickly cut to size on-site to accommodate last-minute changes to your idea.


Renewable Resource 


Timber is an ecologically favorable commodity since it is both a sustainable material and a natural product. Specifically, lumber is purchased from sustainable and ethical producers.


Natural Insulator


Timber will absorb heat during the day and gently release it throughout the night.


Disadvantages


While the initial cost of using timber to build the frame is lower than that of steel, the building is done on-site. In contrast to the steel framework, which is built primarily off-site and ready for assembly upon arrival, every wood must be measured and cut to size.

Another major disincentive to adopting timber frame is its vulnerability to pests and natural disasters like fire, wind, and storm.

A variety of pests can jeopardize the timber's integrity. This includes termites, borers, vermin, and possums. Wood is much simpler to chew than steel!


Finally, wood is vulnerable to dampness. Timber expands as it absorbs water and contracts as it dries. As a result of this expansion and contraction, the associated coverings, such as your gyprock and cornice, may warp and break over time. It can serve as a breeding ground for mold and fungus, both of which offer serious health dangers.


TRUECORE steel frames are strong, straight, and exact, will not twist or bend over time, and will not catch fire.


That's all there is to it! Steel and wood framing both have advantages and disadvantages. We would be delighted to discuss your choices if you are contemplating a steel frame and truss house. Contact us here.

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