The Appeal of Steel

In an effort to improve onsite efficiencies and achieve time savings in construction, many West Australian builders are turning to steel wall framing as a new alternative.

Steel frames made from TRUECORE® steel often arrive on site pre fabricated so they can be quickly and easily installed. Also, they are lightweight and, therefore, easy to handle and in many cases can be installed by semi-skilled tradespeople, rather than specialists. When used in conjunction with a single brick veneer, this can give home builders significant time savings during construction.

Being dimensionally stable, steel house frames made from TRUECORE® steel are strong, durable and won’t warp, twist, sag or shrink over time. They are impervious to termites and, impressively, come with a 50 year warranty* from BlueScope Steel.

“The popularity of steel building frames has been growing enormously in the last few years,” explained Roger Piggott, general manager at Trustek, one of Western Australia’s leading roofing companies. “Not only are people using steel for roof trusses, but as part of their walling systems too. It is strong, reliable and because it can help speed up the building process, a real convenience also.”

One home builder currently using both wall frames and roof trusses made from TRUECORE® steel is Perth based hydraulic systems engineering manager, Keith Griffiths. “I wanted to move away from the traditional double brick option and explore more efficient solutions,’ he said. “Steel seemed to offer various benefits, most noticeably its ease of use. Both the wall frames and roof trusses arrived prefabricated, so they went in just like that!”

Building in rural Chittering, an hour’s drive from Perth, Keith was looking for structural longevity too. “The environment here is quite harsh, so I wanted to ensure the framing was going to be safe from bushfires, termites and just from ongoing wear and tear. I didn’t want to have to worry about cracks in walls or jamming windows and doors in a few years time.”

The steel framing being used by Keith was manufactured and installed by Welshpool based Trustek, which operates across Western Australia. “We typically have 50 teams of contractors working across the state,” explained Roger Piggot. “This is because the benefits of steel house frames apply to all types of housing in all locations, including regular suburban homes, rural homes, top end design projects as well as the cyclone proof housing used in the state’s North West.

“Framing hasn’t traditionally been in the public’s consciousness, but in recent years this has changed. People do want options, and given the benefits of steel framing, it’s increasingly an option they want to explore.”

*For more information on warranties see our page: Warranties for Peace of Mind