Additions are made in the same way as any other building. Furthermore, you can expect that the original steel structure will be straight and true regardless of its age, making the job of matching up the addition easy.

It’s superior, because there is no frame shrinkage to cause cracking and nail popping. Lining materials in steel framed houses can be expected to perform better and look better than in houses built from alternative framing materials.

No. Constructing and finishing building frames is about geometry, accuracy and familiarity with tools and procedures. Most trade operations with steel framing are the same as with timber. Some trade operations require specific information provided by manufacturers, while others need less information and are simpler. We provide installation manuals that provide very clear installation procedures.

The studs and plates have pre-punched holes to facilitate easy cable installation, and grommets are fitted to protect the cable insulation. We can customize the location of these pre-punched holes to suit most requirements.

The use of light gauge materials in steel frames allows the use of inexpensive needle point self-drilling screws in most cases. This may take a little extra effort but they will never spring out. Nailing, or a combination of nails, screws and adhesive, may also be used to reduce costs, depending on the application and framing system.

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. For a more detailed explanation, refer to BlueScope Steel Technical Bulletin TB-10.

Yes – these materials should be isolated. In the presence of water they will develop galvanic cells that will result in damage to the protective metallic coating by a process called “bi-metallic corrosion”. Isolation is simple: lead flashing can be isolated from the frame using an underlay of plastic membrane, while copper pipes can be isolated from the frame by the incorporation of nylon grommets, or by face-fixing to the studs using plastic clips. Both of these systems also resist water hammer noise.

For a more detailed explanation, refer to BlueScope Steel Corrosion Technical Bulletin CTB-12.

No steel frames do not interfere with reception because the wave frequencies pass around steel as easily as they do in timber framed homes.

Yes. Steel frames are safe because frames are earthed and all new housing is required to be fitted with “safety switches” to protect against earth leakage in the wiring. A lightning strike will also have no effect because the steel frame creates a positive earth allowing energy to go to the ground.

This can be eliminated with our system of steel wall frames & trusses, as the smartsteel roll former produces each individual piece of steel by labeling it, cutting it exactly to size, punching all holes and counter sinking screw fixing locations, to give a flush finish. Which means the entire house frames walls & roof can be shipped unassembled in strapped smaller bundles occupying a lot smaller truck space and assembled on site by your local builder using supplied manuals.