When it comes to building a new home, one of the main choices that you’re going to have to make is whether your want a steel frame or a timber frame for your house.
Although timber frames have been more affordable in the past, these days, steel frames are becoming much more popular due to their high structural integrity, low maintenance, and ability to withstand harsh environmental conditions.
Advantages of Steel Frame Homes
Steel frame homes are durable and easy to assemble. Steel frames are also resistant to warping and flexing which means that you get perfectly straight walls and ceilings.
Steel also provides a much better structural foundation which is important in areas that are prone to high winds and heavy storms. Plus, steel frames are not susceptible to termite invasion which can be a problem with many homes that have timber frames.
Steel frame homes are also more fire resistant than ones that use timber frames. However, steel can buckle under very extreme temperatures.
Steel frames are also less susceptible to flood damage than timber frames. This is because timber will rot when exposed to long periods of water inundation.
These days, steel frames are even environmentally friendly thanks to the fact that much of the steel is 100% recyclable such as the Bluescope steel used by Wide Span Homes.
Advantages of Timber Frame Homes
As already mentioned, timber frames are normally cheaper than steel frames. However, when you add the cost of treating the timber for weather resistance and termite protection, the price difference can be quite minimal.
Timber has also been much more readily available and is fairly easy to work with. It’s also a renewable resource, especially when plantation timber is used for the frames. However, as climate change is affecting timber-growing areas in Australia, this may not be the case in years to come.
Why We Manufacture Steel Frame Kit Homes
At Wide Span Homes, all of our kit homes use steel frames made from Australian Truecore steel. This steel is backed by an up to 20-year warranty which gives you complete peace of mind that your home will be structurally sound and will stand up to whatever adverse weather conditions it’s being subjected to.
By choosing a steel frame kit home, you won’t have to worry about termites eating away at the framework of your home.
You’ll also find that your kit home will go together easily as the frames are prefabricated to exact dimensions. This means that you can just bolt the frames together and won’t have to make any minor adjustments to ensure that everything fits just right.
Another advantage of choosing a steel frame home is that no toxic chemicals have been used in the manufacturing process such as those that are used to treat timber frame homes.
And, once your home is constructed, the frames are maintenance-free and you can basically forget that they’re even there. But, you can be confident that your home has a solid framework that will stand the test of time.