We have been reading about the benefits of using steel frames
http://torrenssteelkithomes.com/why-steel.html
What does everything think about timber vs steel framing?
Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Steel frames or Timber frames 4Aug 21, 2011 9:28 pm I am about to start on an owner build, and I am using timber frame. Mainly because it is cheaper and also faster if you are doing it yourself. I have also been told steel frames are very noisy in summer. As the steel heats at uneven rates there can be alot of creaking. I have never lived in one, maybe someone who has can confirm or deny. You also need to get your thermal breaks right as the steel will transfer the heat to the inside of the house more readily than wood. But if you are goign for a modern home with large spans etc, steel will probably work out better. Re: Steel frames or Timber frames 5Aug 21, 2011 9:32 pm Apparently you just use screws to hang pictures, which is ok. The costs look the same as any of the timber homes we have had quoted, for similar inclusions. However, some companies are charging a lot more which is apparently just higher markups. We were watching those shows about the awesome buildings around the world, and they make a lot of reference to steel being superior compared to concrete. Re: Steel frames or Timber frames 6Aug 21, 2011 9:35 pm Quote: I have also been told steel frames are very noisy in summer. As the steel heats at uneven rates there can be alot of creaking. I have never lived in one, maybe someone who has can confirm or deny. Have lived in steel frame house for nearly 3 years - can deny above. I think this was an issue with early steel frames which were riveted instead of screwed (or vice-versa ) PS: do a search, there are umpteen old threads on this topic. Re: Steel frames or Timber frames 7Aug 21, 2011 11:18 pm speaking to sales representatives from mcdonald jones they have a 50 year warranty on steel frame houses which is great! also, they said that in older steel frame houses there was the case of the "noises" with the heat but that is no longer the case with houses these days. i will def be using a steel frame when it comes time for us to build with mjh Steel frames or Timber frames 8Aug 22, 2011 1:19 pm Spoke to Urban Edge sales rep few days ago and was told it's roughly 50k extra for the steel frame.. Does anyone know other builders who do steel frame? I'm aware of JG King, but not liking their finish quality.. Re: Steel frames or Timber frames 9Aug 22, 2011 9:15 pm I've built an investment with timber frame and we have just had our site cut for our home, both being in Bacchus Marsh and this time we are building with Steel. I had not even given it a second thought that we are building with steel, that was till we brought a massive mirror and was talking to dad about hanging it and asking him if we should get extra noggings put in at frame stage to support it when it clicked that i will have a steal frame! LOL I don't have strong feelings either way, i think we are more used to seeing timber frames, but lets do a little more tree hugging, and support BHP and the 1000 people that just got told they will lose their jobs in Oct and build more steel framed houses?? Just a thought Fluffybear we are building with Dixon Homes in Bacchus and having a steel frame. I think Steel framing is standard for them HTH Living in Sydney - Building in Melbourne My Thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=50518 Re: Steel frames or Timber frames 10Sep 19, 2011 11:19 am 50K extra for steel?!?! I find this very hard to believe from my personal experience. McDonald Jones Homes does most, if not all, their builds in steel. Re: Steel frames or Timber frames 11Sep 19, 2011 12:52 pm I'd be willing to pay maybe 10k extra for steel for the simple reason it removes the need for termite treatment in the long term (assuming there is not wood used elsewhere). At $350 per year and 2.5-5k re-treatment every 10 years the cost can add up. Re: Steel frames or Timber frames 12Sep 20, 2011 7:51 am My brother was an owner builder 20 years ago and built with a steel frame. As i am going to build with steel, i really asked lots of questions and he assures me he would not even consider wood frames. He has a two storey house and says he gets no noise unlike his old creaky wooden one. I have worried for the last 13 years in our house in a very tree-filled yard, about termites and i am so pleased to be able to build with a steel frame with MJH for no extra cost. I am also excited about a colourbond roof and no more broken tiles ( and resulting leaks) from tree branches falling on the roof. KDRB Carlingford, NSW Building Garden Retreat with MDJH Re: Steel frames or Timber frames 14Oct 07, 2011 10:51 am Having owned both steel and timber framed houses it's a toss up which one I would choose, although for this build it had to be timber because it was too hard to find a builder who would do steel. Wertmezer...it's just as easy to hang things on the wall, use a tec-screw in a cordless driver instead of a hammer and nail. No really biggie!! Our steel frame had a few 'ticks' as the sun hit it, but mainly on a day when it was cloudy then sunny, it's just the thermals, is not loud and you don't even notice it after the first day or so...although I have to admit that a few times when I had washing on the line and hadn't noticed a storm approaching all of a sudden I would hear the roof ticking and knew immediately it was cooling quickly. A quick dash to the clothesline and retrieve the washing before the storm arrived. As Helyn said if the frame is screwed/bolted together rather than rivetted (or heaven forbid, welded) then the bolts allow for more movement (albeit very slight) than a rigid fixing system. I fail to see how any salesman can say that heat doesn't affect ticking these days...put anything out in full sun and it will expand and contract in the heat. No way would could I afford $50k extra for steel, whoever is quoting that is jumping on the bandwagon, imho. By the same token don't be fooled into a false sense of security in relation to termites....while they won't eat the steel frame they can still 'walk' on the steel frame to get to roofing timbers, then to gyprock ceilings (eating the paper layer) and eat the architraves. I have personally seen this happen, along the way they ate the insulation layer off electric cabling in the walls, came out 'through' the power points and bridged across to antique furniture. I know this is a minority case but that owner was told by his builder that a steel frame was 100% safe....that's until the termites were found and it was a race to see who could move the quickest. The builder or the termites!! This house had to be 'almost' totally rebuilt, all the electrics had to be replaced along with every piece of timber and their in-floor central heating had to be written-off because nobody keeps to a rigid plan as to where the pipes run in the concrete, and when the concrete floor has to be drilled every 500mm in a grid pattern there's every chance you'll drill through the heating pipes. Hope this helps? just remember any salesman is not your friend...he/she is there to look after their own pocket and will tell you what they 'think' you want to hear! Re: Steel frames or Timber frames 15Oct 07, 2011 11:42 am There is a house frame builder up my way who builds and supplies the frames for builders. He builds in both steel and timber, probaly 60% steel and increasing. When I did my last extension he asked 'Steel or timber?'. I said 'what's cheaper ?'. At the time, he said they were both the same (18 months ago) My guess is the price will vary as the cost of steel and timber fluctuate all the time, but $50,000 extra is just a crap money grab by the builder. As previously stated the modern steel homes o not make noises any more, and also pointed out the termite advantage with steel. The big bonus for timber for the OB is the ability to quickly and easily change things on site and add noggins where needed. But once the house is complete the comparisons are the same. Steel has no termites, but modern timber is now treated so no termites either. Hanging pictures is just as easy on either, just different methods. Re: Steel frames or Timber frames 16Nov 08, 2011 9:06 am Hi All, As a few have mentioned, the old wives tale of steel being noisy is simply that, a wives tale. Steel and Gyprock actually expand and contract at a much closer rate that Timber/Gyprock, so your nail pops, cornice cracking and other annoying niggles you get with a timber frame during settling phase are eliminated. Steel NEVER settles. It's not organic, wont warp, twist, bow, rot etc etc etc. I don't need to give you all the sales pitch From an OB perspective, steel frames are FAR easier to work with, you just need a level to get the walls plumb, impact drivers, 10 or 12g tek screws. Steel is considerably lighter and easier to work with, meaning you can easily erect a steel frame, even is the wall is 7.5 meters long, it's still a two person lift and erect. Often all the bracing has been done inside the wall frame itself, so this can be a hidden benifit of a steel frame that isn't often mentioned. The only thing you want to make sure of is that you have a nice flat surface to start with, so a flat slab or sub floor and away you go. I can answer a lot of questions you may have about steel, so happy to be asked. Cheers Pete Re: Steel frames or Timber frames 17Dec 15, 2013 11:43 am I also i was researching on the advantages and disadvantages of each option and also found it very interesting as this thread. http://nusteel.com.au/building-guide/steel-vs-timber/ However steel frames seems the best option, although I think that decision is up to you. Re: Steel frames or Timber frames 18Jan 01, 2014 6:38 pm We have been in our steel framed house now for around seven months and there has been no noises evident so far and it has been hot. My old house was timber framed and it was quite noisy when hearing up in the morning so much so when my sister first stayed she thought there was something wrong. There is also no interference for us in regards to wifi, seems to work as before. Re: Steel frames or Timber frames 19Jan 31, 2014 7:24 pm hey Tash! hows the house settling going for you? you should post some more pics on your blog. Everyone would love to see how it's all come together Building the Nova with MJH http://thehousethatj-lbuilt.blogspot.com.au "When you are arguing against Him, you are arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all." C.S. Lewis Re: Steel frames or Timber frames 20Mar 04, 2018 9:30 pm Hello I am trying to research more stuff about steel frames. Does anyone actually live in a steel framed house and lived in a timber one before? Id like to know if you notice any differences in heating and cooling or anything else please That sucks! Hope it all works out. Good to move away from steel anyway for all your reasons, but it's also thermally poor. 16 17895 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 14465 This is 100% true. You can not hang anything on steel frames. very frustrating 8 8063 |