Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum 1 May 19, 2010 4:54 pm Hi all! Since I have been convinced in this forum to do a kit home (own design), I have sent out some enquiries to kit home manufacturers but so far I have only found ONE company that is to 100% flexible on the materials regarding the ones I want to use. Now, I found another company where I can use my own design and they are able to use Hebel but they only do timber frames. What are your thoughts on timber and on steel frames??? Thank you in advance! Regards, Mel Re: Steel or timber frame?? 2May 19, 2010 7:29 pm There are advantages and disadvantages to both Advantage of Timber - Easy to drill holes in to for things like picture frames, kitchen cupboards, plasterboard walls if ur building a kit home etc Disadvantage of Timber - Can get termites in which can cause the whole structure of the house to be unstable Advantage of Steel - No termites Disadvantages of steel - Slightly hotter, can make creeking noises Hope this helps Re: Steel or timber frame?? 3May 20, 2010 9:30 am you're not serious about the creeking noises, are you?? Like when? When it's windy? We'd be using Hebel Wall Panels and Plasterboard. Would we still have problems drilling holes etc., using a steel frame? What about to the building process? Is steel easier to put up than timber? Thank you in advance! Mel Re: Steel or timber frame?? 4May 20, 2010 10:04 pm For a kit home, steel can be of great advantage. Walls are usually pre assembled, so construction consists of little more than screwing wall 1 into wall 2, then join to wall 3 etc. etc. You can usually errect a single story steel frame with truss roof in a few days. Re: Steel or timber frame?? 5May 21, 2010 8:34 am Wow, that sounds quick. I just read on the ubuild.com.au website that steel can corrode if you build close to the sea, which we will. It's a tough decision... Termites or corrosion... So, Hills Guy, with those walls you mentioned, that wouldn't work with Hebel Wall Panels, would it? Thanks heaps! Regards, Mel Re: Steel or timber frame?? 7May 21, 2010 9:54 am You can get your timber in treated pine for about 15% extra so termites aren't an issue if you don't want them to be. Both are relatively quick to install but timber is quicker. Timber is heavier to handle than steel and timber is also more difficult to straighten walls. Its much easier to make changes to timber, you can make the timber work but with steel you have to work around it. Noise really isn't an issue with steel these days. Re: Steel or timber frame?? 8May 21, 2010 2:57 pm so, when you're saying you can work with the timber... Do you mean something like, you got all the supplies from the kit home company but you do want to change the size of a room a little and you can do this using timber but not steel. Is that what you mean by working with the timber? I suppose timber is cheaper and if I got either the pest or the nature's corrosion... I suppose if you would have to get something on the timber fixed, take a wall out or something, then I'd be better off with timber, wouldn't I. Now, the treated pine... Has anyone got an idea if that's environmentally friendly? How bad or heavy are those chemicals used to treat the pine??? Re: Steel or timber frame?? 9May 21, 2010 3:34 pm agent001 Disadvantages of steel, can make creeking noises What a load of crapp! Its the metal roof sheeting tha expands and contracts thus creeking and not the steel wall framing Re: Steel or timber frame?? 10May 21, 2010 3:51 pm My personal preference would be for H2 treated timber framing. Nothing against steel. Peter Clarkson - AusDesign Australia www.ausdesign.com.au This information is intended to provide general information only. It does not purport to be a comprehensive advice. Re: Steel or timber frame?? 11May 21, 2010 11:50 pm Island OB So, Hills Guy, with those walls you mentioned, that wouldn't work with Hebel Wall Panels, would it? Thanks heaps! I assume you are just using the Hebel as a cladding rather than structural. The bricks, Hebel or sheeting is really only a dressing and not structural. I have not used Hebel on a steel framed home but can’t see a reason you couldn’t tie it in the same as you do for timber. Nomad Both are relatively quick to install but timber is quicker. I've yet to see timber go up as quick as steel. The steel is all prefab in wall sections, and is much quicker than timber to throw up as you don’t have to make each wall. Re: Steel or timber frame?? 12May 22, 2010 12:45 am I'm sorry 'Hills Guy' but from what i've read of your posts my interpretation is that . . . 'I disagree' (WTF) In fact your assertions need qualifying . . . We'll wait for your posts. Peter Clarkson - AusDesign Australia www.ausdesign.com.au This information is intended to provide general information only. It does not purport to be a comprehensive advice. Re: Steel or timber frame?? 13May 22, 2010 6:58 am I have had a steel frame home for 15 years. It went up in no time, it doesn't creek or groan. It is a little more difficult to fasten stuff to, but it's just technique. Main gripe... I am sure it bridges the insulation, and I know it is not properly represented in the software. Ed "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 Re: Steel or timber frame?? 14May 22, 2010 7:37 pm ausdesign I'm sorry 'Hills Guy' but from what i've read of your posts my interpretation is that . . . 'I disagree' (WTF) In fact your assertions need qualifying . . . We'll wait for your posts. Which assertion? Please explain? Re: Steel or timber frame?? 15May 23, 2010 1:41 am hey mel as your building near the sea steel will eventually corode as for timber its easy to use wont corode and last i heard tasmania is the only state termite free so u wont have problems with them. we used treated pine frame was up in 2 days trusses another 2 days that was just me n hubby on our own. imo wood is easier long term given your location stay safe happy building Re: Steel or timber frame?? 16May 23, 2010 1:48 am Now, the treated pine... Has anyone got an idea if that's environmentally friendly? How bad or heavy are those chemicals used to treat the pine???[/quote] as far as im aware the chemical used is pretty bad but once the wood is treated it dosnt seep into the enviroment by building with it. any envioromental contamination would happen at the actual treatment plant not by you guys using the end product and im sure the plant would have strict quality controls in place to prevent contamination. stay safe happy building Re: Steel or timber frame?? 17May 24, 2010 9:27 am Hubby told me on the weekend that if we're using Hebel we won't even need a frame... I'm consued but it does sound right. No, it's not just for cladding, it's gonna be for the structure. Any thoughts on that??? Re: Steel or timber frame?? 20May 24, 2010 7:08 pm nomad Hills Guy you do realize that timber frames come in prefab form in the same way steel does? Yes, I realise it can be done that way, but I cant really think of a site I have seen in the past few years in Adeliade that have done it. (other than for a roof truss) Most places I know are not set up to prefab timber, and its usually delivered in lengths and made on site. PS - I realise you can do this with steel as well, but all sites I am familiar with prefab rather than deliver lengths. This is 100% true. You can not hang anything on steel frames. very frustrating 8 8030 Hi I am wanting some opinions about the build of a steel shed I am going to get one about 4.5 x 2.5 m steel shed and the height will be about 2.3-2.4m high The one I am… 0 14448 Hi, I have a steel frame house which was built 2 years ago. When you are down stairs you can hear clunking noises when someone is walking around. We were told if you… 0 4458 |