Our price is comparable to treated timber or cyprus pine frames, however our standard built in inclusions and ancillaries we supply represents much better value for money.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
A buildings frame is the structural skeleton hidden away from easy inspection for damage by pests, and is uninsurable against expensive repairs so security and peace of mind are foremost of the many reasons to use a steel frame.
See the Advantages of steel framing page.
No. The frames are not visible in the finished building. Our frames can be used with all of the same claddings, linings or coverings that can be used on timber.
Pretty much anyone who has a building project that our range of products and services will cater to, from the professional builder to the handy person.
No. We custom manufacture building products to your architectural design from small to large projects and from simple to complex shapes.
We supply to regular customers who have standard plans ( Bell River Homes, Harnett Homes, Craftsman Homes Dubbo, Bell Country Homes )
The only steel specific tools required are a tek gun to connect the parts together and an angle grinder for trimming and cutting . The tek gun is also used for all the later trades to attach gyprock , timber , eves , metal roofs etc. Builders dedicated to building in steel use magnetic spirit levels , vice grips and battery powered tools to save time on site.
Generally our walls and trusses can be moved and installed with just two people, as you can see in the factory photo below. If you have any structural requirements around large openings and special loads then your frames may be heavier.
Builders using steel regularly comment on the ease of handling compared to timber construction.
Our frames and trusses have been installed in one of the worst cyclone effected area of Australia, Port Hedland. We are confident that no matter what wind rating you require we can find a solution to suit.
Our welding method eliminates the potential for noise between the members and many of our customers comment on how quiet their steel framed home is compared to their previous timber framed home. We believe that noise and other myths about steel framing have been started around the period when it became a viable alternative to other building systems.
There are many common methods of cutting , joining , extending and fixing steel frames to choose from so altering a steel frame is often easier than other materials.
We supply the screws to connect the frames and trusses together in our price to ensure that you are using the correct one to achieve the designed strength. We also have available a range of steel frame specific fasteners and products to provide a complete service to our customers especially those in locations without easy access to hardware items.
The environment of frames and trusses inside the claddings and linings of a building on the coast has very little exposure, if any, to the corrosive elements of the sea. Steel fixings are used extensively in timber framing construction and is not considered a risk factor . The Truecore steel used in our frames and trusses is much more durable with a 50 year warranty period
Our steel framing is commonly used on extensions mainly where there is a joining line with the existing structure . Many older buildings are constructed with termite resistant materials and steel framing protects the old building from infestation from the additions.
Modern wiring practices have virtually eliminated the risk of electrocution from all forms of construction. Steel framing has always provided the best earth protection system from electrical shorting and melts the fuse rather than allowing electrical shorting or starting a fire. Lightning strikes have the same effect as electrical shorting but history depicts that lightning tracks higher materials with a high moisture content like trees and water towers and its last choice is dry areas.
We do not have any evidence of steel frame buildings interfering with electronic signals. Steel framing is used extensively in Hospitals and Aged Care buildings where a range of communications systems are used and most public buildings are constructed with some form of steel structure without detriment to phones, TV or radio.
Steel does not burn or promote fires starting from smouldering embers which substantially reduces the chance of your building catching on fire .
Recent CSIRO bush fire testing is providing very exciting results for steel framing, see the report here.
This is determined by your local council requirements. Some councils have “whole of house” termite protection policies and others require frame only protection. People who are sensitive to chemicals can often get an exemption from using them and the use of steel framing eliminates any risk of damage to the expensive and difficult to fix building structure.
Yes, we have supplied flat packs for many years to DIY and remote location markets. Our stud, plate, nogging and truss chord nesting system or the two member crimping system are suitable for screwing or welding on site.
We use TrueCore® steel which is produced in Australia by Bluescope Steel, which comes with a 50 year conditional guarantee. Truecore has a zinc/aluminium coating which defends the steel against corrosion.
Two good sources of further information are BlueScope Steel and the National Association of Steel-Framed Housing (NASH).
Bluescope Steel supply the TrueCore® steel that our frames are manufactured from. If you wish learn more about steel framing in general visit the TrueCore® section of the BlueScope website.
The National Association of Steel-Framed Housing (NASH) is an association of which Custom Steel Frames is a member. NASH describes their association as “an active industry association centred on light structural framing systems for residential and similar construction”, and present a whole range of information for your consideration.
A document you might find helpful is the [Home Builders and Buyers Guide to Steel Framed Construction (PDF)] (283kb)