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Steel frames are one of the best options for making a modern house.
This article will go through all aspects of what makes steel frame houses ideal and how you can get one for your family or investment home.
Origin of use of steel frame in construction
It’s an old concept, like train stations and factories, the established standard for industrial construction.
As technology has improved, we can do things with steel frames, like making prefabricated steel frames and trusses.
How are steel frame homes built?
- After considering the design, prefabricated steel frames are assembled in our facilities.
- They are then transported straight on-site, set, and fixed in place with bolts by our expert installers and licensed carpenters.
- Different types of connections are used to secure the steel frame in place.
- After fitting and fixing with bolts, steel frames provide a framework of strength and stability that is ideal for construction.
- Holes for plumbing and electrical fittings are pre-punched, which makes installing those services even faster.
Why Choose a Steel Frame House?
- Steel, unlike timber, is much more recyclable with less waste, as you can use almost the entire frame.
- You can afford to go crazy with creativity as steel frames can be molded to infinite shapes, and you are less restricted than timber.
- Steel frame homes are generally cooler in summers and hotter in winters as they are very energy efficient, sustainable and airtight. Pair a steel frame’s airtightness with double glazed windows for a home that holds its temperature well in both Canberra winters and Sydney summers.
- This matters more than ever: since the 2022 National Construction Code update, all new homes across most Australian states and territories must meet a minimum 7-star NatHERS energy rating. A well-insulated steel frame system makes it easier to hit — and exceed — that benchmark, which can translate into a better energy rating and lower ongoing power bills.
- Ideal for the rough Australian weather(especially areas prone to bushfire) and adds durability. Your frame is only half the story — what goes over it matters just as much for weatherproofing and street /appeal. See our complete guide to cladding for how to pair the right exterior finish with a steel-framed build.
- Much stronger than traditional options like timber. As they are bolted down, there is no risk of structural movement or rupture.
- Steel frame homes come with warranties and have better insurance options.
- Termite proof: You save thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the house: making maintenance cheap by saving on chemicals and fees and labor charges for extermination.
- No shrinking or warping: Dues to its solid nature, steel will make your house architecturally more sound. In addition, all the details of the house are sharp as the frame has precise, fixed dimensions.
- Steel typically carries a higher upfront material cost than timber, but that premium is offset over time by lower maintenance costs, no termite treatment, and lower insurance premiums in bushfire-prone areas.
- Safety from bush fires: With weather patterns in Australia unpredictable and many fires in recent years, steel frames will ensure less damage occurs to the structure in case of fire damage. Combined with the right eaves design, a steel frame’s rigidity holds its shape precisely, keeping eave lines straight and gaps sealed over time.
- Water resistant: wood can become soggy and weak due to water exposure. No such problem with steel. So when it rains, you can relax and enjoy a nice cuppa.
Steel vs. Timber Frames
Steel and timber are the two most common materials used to build house frames.
Timber is the traditional way, relatively cheap and natural. Steel is more robust, although a pricier option.
Both have several ways in which they are similar as well as different:
- Stability: Steel is more stable as it is stronger and more inelastic.
- Weight: Steel frames are less bulky, even though they provide more strength.
- Wear and tear: Timber is susceptible to termites, while steel is prone to rust, especially if the house is near the sea.
- Fire resistance: Steel frames have much higher resistance to heat than timber, although different kinds of wood have different burning temperatures.
- Resistance to the wind: Steel is much more resistant to wind pressure, as it has a better strength-to-weight ratio than timber.
- Price: While the acute timber shortages of 2021–2022 have eased, the industry is still watching a longer-term structural gap — Master Builders Australia and the Australian Forest Products Association have forecast a shortfall of up to 250,000 house frames’ worth of timber by the mid-2030s without further investment in plantation timber. Steel avoids that long-term supply risk entirely, since it isn’t dependent on Australia’s timber plantation cycle.
FAQs about steel frame houses
We have experience in talking to customers about their concerns. So we made a list to clear some myths and doubts about steel frame houses.
Q 1. Do steel frame homes make more noise?
Ans: No, since we use high-quality construction standard steel. It is as quiet as anything else.
Q 2. Do steel frame home attract lightning?
Ans: This is an old urban myth.
In reality, since the whole frame is steel made, such homes are excellent lightning rods, which send current straight to the earth.
You and your family are safe and sound.
Q 3. Do steel frame houses have high maintenance costs?
Ans: Since steel does not degrade or warp like wood, there is less need for maintenance due to flexing or warping.
The strength of such a frame also affects the other parts of the construction as the finishing has straighter lines that stay true with time.
Steel’s fixed, precise dimensions also make it a reliable base for detailed internal features like bulkheads, since there’s no timber movement to throw ceiling lines out over time.
There are no issues with the misalignment of the doors, windows, and floors.
These issues are common with timber. Hence, you won’t need to get work done every couple of years.
Q 4. Will the house’s steel frame affect electronics in the home or Wifi signals?
Ans: This is another urban myth that is still popular. In reality, the electrical signals work just as efficiently.
Imagine a modern skyscraper. It has so much steel, and there is no problem with using your phone or laptop.
It’s much the same as a house built with steel at its core.
Build a Steel Frame Homes with ABM Homes
At ABM Homes, we have expertise building homes with all kinds of materials, especially steel.
Our engineers and designers are experienced in using steel frames for the main home structure and the outhouse or other extension buildings.
To find out how you can get a solid steel frame house of your own, reach out to our team today.