A house can be rated based on its performance on the following categories: structural, functional and visual. The functional and visual aspects can be easily evaluated. Although the structural aspect is the most important of the three, it can only rated by experts and only time will prove the quality of its materials.
The frame or the skeleton of your building holds it together and it contributes largely to the durability and longevity of the structure. Your house can be the most attractive in the neighborhood and its design meets all your specifications but it all boils down to the quality of the framing.
Importance of Quality Framing
Steel framed buildings are popular choices for those who favor strength, durability and quality. If your home has quality steel framing, then:
- Your walls and roof will stay straight.
- Your walls and ceiling will stay flat.
- Your rooms will retain their square or rectangular shapes.
- Your doors and windows will never jam.
- The plaster walls will not crack.
- The nails in the plaster walls will not pop.
- Harmful pests will not cause structural damage.
Building codes and standards are enforced to ensure the safety of the occupants. The requirements do not touch on the type of architectural finishes used. In short, they focus on quality of the design and the building materials used.
Steel framing benefits
The building’s structural frame bears the wind, dead and live loads. In addition, it supports the cladding, lining materials and all fixtures. Such critical functions require quality materials and quality design. Steel framed buildings remain straight and true for decades. In fact, manufacturers are so confident in their durability that they offer at least 50 years of structural warranty for steel framed buildings.
Other outstanding benefits of steel framed buildings include:
- Design flexibility – There are no design limitations with steel framing, making it conform to client needs and local building standards.
- Fire resistant – Steel framing is highly fire resistant and does not in any way, contribute to the spread of fire.
- Low maintenance requirements – Steel framing requires minimal maintenance.
- Expandable – Steel framing can be easily and affordably expanded when the need arises.
- Readily available – Suppliers and manufacturers of steel framing abound.
The quality of buildings should not be judged by their outward appearances alone. The structural integrity of the building is more important and has a greater contribution to the overall value of the structure.
Source: http://www.nashnz.org.nz/nash_in_nz/sustainable_steel_framing.html
Tags: Steel framed buildings
Posted in: Steel Buildings |
Homeowners who invested on steel framed buildings have realized that all the promises of steel construction are indeed true. They would really get plenty of bang for their buck with steel framed buildings. Previously associated with commercial building construction, steel framing has now invaded the residential-home building sector and it is proving to be a more attractive construction solution than wood framed houses.
The popularity of steel as a construction material for homes started when its price fell to within the reach of ordinary homeowners. But the major selling point is steel’s amazing strength, which is impossible to match by wood.
Imagine your house’s skeletal frame made of high quality steel, which has the highest strength to weight ratio among all construction materials. The steel skeletal structure has been computer engineered to adhere to existing building codes as well as specifications for heavy snow, high wind and seismic loadings.
After the design is complete, all structural components are precision cut to their exact specifications, resulting in a structural framing that is dimensionally stable and will remain straight and true for many years to come.
Steel framed buildings allow for clear-span construction with no interior support columns. That’s why there’s more freedom in the house’s floor layout. In contrast, “stick framing” is the most common method used in building wood-framed houses, which is not only limiting, as far as floor layout is concerned, but also labor-intensive.
Steel framed buildings may cost a little bit more than a wood-frames structures but the savings that are to sure to follow, during construction and throughout their lifetime, will more than compensate for this additional investment.
The whole steel structural frame is delivered at the site. There’s no more need to hire skilled labor to do the cutting and assembling individual frame members, which is true with the “stick framing” method. Steel framed buildings allow for reduced labor time and associated costs since they are generally simpler to erect and require fewer workers to install.
Another avenue for savings with steel framed buildings is their low maintenance. Steel does not deteriorate unlike wood. Also, it does not rot, warp, break, twist, buckle, split, crack, settle or burn. Steel is resistant to termites, insects, rodents, mold and fungi. The steel used in steel-framed building is coated with anti-rust products, making them corrosion resistant.
Tags: Steel framed buildings
Posted in: Steel Buildings |
Is your retirement age fast approaching? Many people who are about to retire dream of getting away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Moving to places with mild climates and less noise, access to parks and other recreational venues like lakes or libraries is a common goal. Of course, you also want your house to have the style and design fit for your less stressful lifestyle.
Steel framed buildings are perfect as residences for people who want to enjoy their retirement years. A common requirement of retirees is a house that is not too big, with enough room for the kids and grandchildren to stay when they visit. You will have plenty of customization options when you choose steel framed buildings.
Do you want a Victorian cottage or a log cabin? Is your lot on a hill or near a forest?You will have no problem achieving any look you want because there is complete flexibility in architectural design with steel framed buildings.
There are plenty of options with doors, windows and architectural finishes for an attractive façade. Steel framed buildings are also more adaptable to difficult terrains like hillsides and forested areas unlike traditionally made structures.
Durability and reliability are the trademarks of steel framed buildings. With straight walls and square corners, these metal structures are dimensionally stable. Designed and built up to code, steel framed buildings can withstand wind and seismic loads.
Unlike wood that shrink, rot and warp, the awesome strength of steel allows steel framed buildings to have wider spans for greater freedom in floor layouts. You can have large open spaces to entertain friends and new acquaintances inside.
Steel framed buildings are attractive to retirees because they offer a lot of opportunities to save. First, they are easy to erect, saving you a lot on construction costs. Second, they require less maintenance unlike conventional structures that require regular maintenance and repairs. Steel is resistant to mold and termite infestation. It is also easy to clean. You also pay less in insurance premiums since steel is fire resistant and non-combustible. You may also install insulation to make the structure more energy-efficient.
Whether your new home is located in a small town or near the lakeshore, you can retire in style in steel framed buildings.
Tags: Steel framed buildings
Posted in: Steel Buildings |
Everyone is familiar with how a shipping container looks like – ugly rectangular steel boxes. Well, besides that, they are strong, lightweight, low-cost (the lowest actually), theft-resistant, highly portable enclosures that come in standard designs and sizes so that they can be stacked on top of the other. These combined characteristics and the glut in their supply caught the eye of specialists.
Nowadays, architects and designers have transformed them into modern homes, schools and even commercial establishments such as coffee shops and retail stores. This out-of-the-box thinking has come about because of the continued search for cost-effective, innovative and environment-friendly construction solutions that are readily available.
Not anymore considered as novelty structures, shipping containers can be modified and made into steel framed buildings. Steel framed buildings are “eco-friendly”, energy-efficient, hurricane-resistant, pest-resistant and affordable construction solutions, making them attractive alternatives to timber and concrete.
What’s more, construction of steel framed buildings is quick and easy because they are prefabricated. Most of the labor-intensive jobs like measuring, cutting and welding are all done at the factories. Combine this feature with shipping containers that already have walls, ceilings and floors. And what do you get? – A very fast and simple process of building a house or any structure.
Shipping containers come in various lengths – 20 feet, 40 feet, 45 feet, 48 feet and 53 feet. For a 40-foot long container, there is an available floor space of 304 square feet. So, if you want a 1,000 square foot of house, you just need three 40-foot containers and steel framing.
To introduce windows and doors, skylights and any other opening, the corrugated steel is cut and framed with steel. It is wise to have these cutting, framing and welding done off-site, much like the prefabrication of the structural steel framing to save on labor costs.
For more spacious interiors, customers remove much of the corrugated paneling along the length of the sides. However, as a general rule, removal of the side panels requires steel framing for added strength. Steel framed buildings can be engineered to comply with existing building codes so there’s no need to worry.
Of course, the comfort of the interiors is another issue. It is common to use insulative coating on the walls, then finished with facings for a cleaner look.
Steel framed buildings made of shipping containers result in designs that can take on more conventional shapes. The only thing left is to furnish the interiors and exteriors for a more contemporary look and feel.
Tags: Steel framed buildings
Posted in: Steel Buildings |
Steel framing, previously confined to high-rise commercial buildings, has now found its way to the domestic housing market. In fact, the demand for steel framed buildings has reached a phenomenal growth, surprising even the skeptics. This is mostly due to the many benefits and savings steel framing offers.
What are the advantages and benefits of steel framed buildings?
- Use of cutting-edge technologies.
Today’s manufacturers of steel framed buildings have invested in state-of-the-art technologies and processes to come up with high-quality designs and products never before seen in steel construction. In fact, there’s greater design freedom with steel framing.
- Greater design freedom
Contemporary home designs have wide-span interiors and this can be easily achieved with steel framing. Besides, incorporating other construction materials in the interior and exterior of steel framed buildings is not a problem, allowing them to blend well with other existing structures. Homeowners can achieve whatever look and form they want with steel construction.
- Durable and structurally sound
Steel framed buildings will remain straight and true, even for those built along steep or sloping grounds. The steel framing will not sag, warp, shrink or twist even during extreme weather conditions. Homeowners are assured of decades of reliable performance with steel framed buildings. In fact, manufacturers are so confident of the quality of their products that they offer up to 50 years of structural warranty.
- Quick and easy to build
Prefabrication makes the construction of steel framed buildings straightforward, efficient and fast, requiring minimal supervision machinery. All the tedious like cutting, welding and fitting have all been done at the factory. In fact, for small and medium sized structures, some homeowners do the construction themselves, with the help of family and friends. This translates to substantial savings in labor costs and early occupancy.
- Minimal maintenance costs
Steel framed buildings are 100% termite-proof, requiring no chemical coatings
to the elements. In addition, steel frames are coated with a zinc-aluminum alloy to protect them corrosion, making them more durable even when exposed to the elements.
- Non-combustible
Steel framing does not burn and will not release smoke and carbon dioxide. So, unlike timber, it will not ignite in case of a fire. In other words, since it will not help spread the flames, the fire has greater chances of being put out in steel framed buildings.
All in all, steel framed buildings provide homeowners with long term peace of mind and savings that no other construction method can.
Tags: Steel framed buildings
Posted in: Steel Buildings |
