Do we still
need to install chemical or physical termite barriers if we use a steel
frame? No. The Building Code of Australia
specifies chemical and physical termite barriers only where structural members
are subject to termite attack. A steel frame is resistant to termite attack and
a house built with a steel frame without a termite barrier is a reasonably safe
option for an owner. The safest possible options are a steel frame plus
non-structural fixtures of termite-resistant materials, or a steel frame plus a
termite barrier.
Design
How much
design flexibility do I have? Almost
unlimited. Your local steel frame fabricators are capable of producing virtually
any of the single or two-storey home designs seen in the Australian domestic
housing market today. Steel framing is especially suitable for difficult or
sloping sites.
Are the frames
successfully treated for rust prevention at cut edges and drill
holes? Yes! Zinc coated ("galvanized")
and zinc/aluminium alloy coated steels are protected from cut-edge corrosion by
galvanic action - the coating adjacent to the edge or hole protects the cut
area.
How does steel perform with
reference to cracking of plaster cornices?
It's superior. Because there is no shrinkage, cornices in steel framed houses
can be expected to perform better and look better than in houses of other
framing materials.
Construction
Is it safe
electrically? Yes. Steel frames are safe
because frames are earthed and all new housing is now required to be fitted with
RCD safety switches.
Does installing
architraves and skirtings present problems for the fixout trades? No. The use of lighter gauge materials in the
frames allows the use of inexpensive needle point screws, or self drilling
screws. This may take a little extra effort but they will never spring out.
Nailing, or a combination of nails and screws, may also be used to reduce costs,
depending on the application and framing system.
Does it cost more for electrical work? No. The studs and plates can have pre-punched
holes to facilitate easy cable installation, and grommets are fitted to protect
the cable sheathing.
Is more trade
skill required to work with steel framing?
No. In fact some trades benefit. For example, with some systems bricklayers can
install the brick ties completely by simply clipping them into the stud.
Normally the close up carpenter would fix the brick ties after the brick layer
has finished. Plasterers find it easy to work with steel framing because it is
so straight and true. Tradesmen who install kitchen and bathroom fixtures
similarly find it easy.
Quality
Do steel
framed houses look different? Yes. Actually
they look better! Walls and ceilings do not have ripples or bumps in them, there
are no "nail pops" in plasterboard walls, no shrinkage in intermediate floor
joists and no sagging roofs.
Why do
people decide to build with steel? Steel is
a superior product for long term investment, with added advantages. Steel is
light and strong, does not burn, is termite and borer proof and is dimensionally
stable - it will not shrink or warp. Steel framing will ensure the structural
integrity and high standard of finish of the building long into the future.
Using steel is environmentally responsible.
Cost
How does the
price of steel framing compare with other frame materials? Very competitively! Due to innovative steel
framing system technology, standard house designs can be built at a reasonable
price. If you compare a steel frame with a frame of the highest possible quality
termite-resistant timber, the price will be competitive
