Most houses are built with wood, so why be different? Why build with steel?
Well, there are many benefits for you and your family. The price of timber frames and steel frames for the average Kiwi house is very similar. But that’s where the similarities end. If two products are similar in cost, but one gives you heaps of extra value, which would you choose?
We all want the same thing – peace of mind that our homes, usually our biggest financial asset and the walls that contain our loved ones and prized possessions are well constructed, cost effective and will stand the test of time, all while being environmentally friendly. Light weight Steel framing has now been used in New Zealand for over five decades. Steel framed houses have also been tested to withstand a 9 on the richter scale, this video is long but a must see if you are thinking about building.
Seven Secrets of Steel.
STRONG
Earthquake resistant, indifferent to flame, a steel frame home is made to exact specifications to provide the strongest construction possible. With steel framing, you can enjoy beautiful open spans with no worry about sagging floors or cracking ceilings
PRICING – LOW MAINTENANCE
Steel framing can replace timber framing in every application, often at a lower cost. Steel absorbs no moisture, so twisting, bowing, crowning and warping are never a problem. As your builder we will not have to pick through a delivered load of wood to find a quality piece. Steel framing assembles quickly, saving on labour costs. A house built with a steel frame stays in plumb forever, so you enjoy straight walls and crisp, square corners for as long as you live in your steel-framed home, with little or no maintenance.
STRONG
Earthquake resistant, indifferent to flame, a steel frame home is made to exact specifications to provide the strongest construction possible. With steel framing, you can enjoy beautiful open spans with no worry about sagging floors or cracking ceilings
FAST
Steel frame homes go up quickly. Our fabricator supplies our steel frames pre framed and with clearly labelled frames for easy assembly. No concerns about drilling through framing to run cables and pipes, either; the steel framing come with plastic-lined service holes.
ACCURATE
Because a steel frame is manufactured, not harvested, it is custom-made to an astounding degree of accuracy. This structural framework translates to the entire home, so all other trades can provide electrical, plumbing and finishing work with utmost precision. Corners are true and tight; door frames are exactly square.
HEALTHY
Clean, simple steel needs no preservatives or chemical baths to protect it. It is impenetrable to termites, ants and other insects. It provides no foothold for moulds, spores, fungi or airborne organic pollutants. Unlike foams, fibres and manufactured wood products, steel gives off no gases or volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
INNOVATIVE
Architects and designers know steel has virtually no limitations due to its high strength, low weight and ability to span unsupported spaces. You and your architect can let imaginations flow, from daring roof profiles to cantilevered decks to arched, open interiors. Sloped or rocky sites are also no problem for versatile steel.
SUSTAINABLE
Completely recyclable, free of chemicals, steel is designed and made for its intended purpose from the drafting table right to your home site. This means minimal waste and a work site free of clutter, scraps and sawdust.
