Advantages of steel framing.

At Aruva, we made the transition to steel framing a few years ago, and we’ve never looked back!

But we still get questions from our customers as to why we chose to do this, and what the advantages are of using steel for our frames. So as part of our transparent approach to doing business, we wanted to address that question in this article.

Using steel for framing has many benefits than more traditional timber frames. We find that our customers are extremely happy with their steel framed accommodation units because they’re stronger, straighter and require less maintenance.

Here are just some of the advantages of using steel frames in the construction of accommodation units.

Ease of construction.

It takes far less time and effort to construct steel frames than it does to make timber ones. We use BHP steel (now known as Bluescope Steel Australia) which comes to us in coils. We then put the steel through our specialised state-of-the-art computerised steel framing machine to make the frames for our units.

Steel frames are more cost-effective.

Thanks to our special computerised steel framing machine, we can manufacture the frames faster which saves labour time and costs. We also find that there’s much less wastage when comparing this type of construction to using timber frames. 

Additionally, the small amount of wastage that is created is collected from our factory and then recycled to make other steel products. This makes steel incredibly environmentally friendly because there’s virtually no wastage that ends up in landfill.

Steel frames are always perfectly straight.

The steel frames that we make are always perfectly straight and thanks to the properties of steel, the frames will never buckle, warp, shrink or twist unlike frames made from timber. 

Plus steel does not absorb moisture so the frames will not swell or change shape unlike those made from timber.

Steel is incredibly strong and durable

Our customers can attest to the fact that our steel frames remain strong and durable, even under extreme weather conditions. And our contractors enjoy working with the frames because of how strong they are.

Another advantage with steel frames is that they’re fire-resistant and will not easily burn. Plus they won’t give off toxic fumes when exposed to fire like timber frames can.

Steel is also insect-proof which makes it the perfect solution in areas that are prone to termite infestations.

Building with steel frames requires much less effort.

Because steel frames are perfectly straight and there’s never any variance, the entire construction process is much easier and requires much less effort. It’s really just like putting a Meccano set together!

And for an equivalent strength, steel frames weigh much less than timber ones. For example, a steel truss is only a fraction of the weight of a timber one and can easily be lifted with just one hand, and yet it achieves the same strength! This is excellent for our employees and helps us to avoid any OH&S problems.

In fact, according to Australian Steel Institute, “steel has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of all the primary construction projects”.

Steel is sustainable.

Steel is easy to obtain and in plentiful supply which gives it the ultimate in sustainability. Plus there’s no need to cut down trees for timber.

Steel also has an extremely long lifespan and can be recycled. This means that it can be used over and over again – another excellent sustainability feature!

Using steel frames makes it easier to create an energy efficient home.

Because all steel frames are perfectly straight and there’s never any variance, it’s much easier to create effective seals between the frames and the adjoining windows and doors. This nice tight seal means that homes built using steel frames are much less draughty and better inside temperature control can be obtained and maintained.

You can see why we love steel frames and why you should too!

With all these advantages, what’s not to love about steel frames? Most of our customers certainly agree that making the transition to steel framing has been a good move for us.

Now that you understand all the benefits of using steel frames over timber ones, we hope that you too agree with our decision. At the end of the day, our customers are the ones who will benefit from our wise move.