Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. There are ongoing savings for the householder. Because steel will not burn and is termite-proof, some insurers offer attractive discounts on their premiums for steel framed homes. Also, the expense of ongoing anti-termite chemical treatments is avoided, and you will never have to replace your frame or roof due to termite damage.

Yes. In Australia and NZ steel framing has been used successfully in housing since the early 1950’s. Today’s framing represents the results of years of research, testing and product improvement. It is a thoroughly engineered product. Don’t forget that steel frames have been used in commercial buildings for many years because of their superior attributes.

The steel in the frames that is produced by SFD is quality-accredited to appropriate National Standard Specifications. The components are precision manufactured and assembled to very tight tolerances using advanced techniques. Computer-aided design, computer-controlled manufacture, and advanced engineering, ensure the customer gets the design he or she wants, and that installation is quick and easy. Strength and performance are engineered into the frames.

Yes, they look better. Walls, ceilings and roofs do not have ripples or bumps in them and there are no “nail pops” in the plasterboard linings. Roofs of steel-framed homes do not sag over time, so the finished job keeps looking good. In fact because of steel’s strength you can design your home with larger open spaces whilst the exterior looks like any normal home.

Steel frames are made of steel protected against corrosion by a hot-dipped metallic coating of a zinc-aluminum alloy. In external applications such as roofing these products are exposed to the elements and have excellent durability, so in less exposed applications such as inside the building envelope they weather far more slowly. Where there are cut edges the galvanic action, or sacrificial protection, of the coatings protects the exposed steel edge against corrosion.

Yes. Steel frames are safe because they are earthed. It is a requirement that all new housing be fitted with circuit breaking safety devices, so there is little chance of you touching anything live. A broken or pierced wire in a timber frame can remain live and leaking current can cause trouble-some faults and fire risk.

No. Steel frame homes will not interfere with any electronic devices performance. Electro-magnetic waves can diffract around steel as easily as timber.

Yes. Additions are relatively simple and pose no problems. Furthermore the existing steel structure will remain straight and true regardless of its age, making the job of lining up the extension easier than for conventional timber framing.

Either! There are several steel floor systems available for pier-design. Direct fixing to concrete slabs is also very widely used. On sloping sites where limits have been imposed on the maximum depth of cut and fill, it can be far more economical and environmentally friendly to use raised steel flooring than a concrete slab. Also, an elevated steel flooring system performs as an excellent first line of defence against sub-terran an termites because any termite workings are forced into the open where they are easily seen.

No. Because steel creates a positive earth, the lightning has less effect. The energy is conducted straight to the ground, and is not released destructively within the frame as in conventional framing or cladding.

No, many of our customers choose to erect their buildings themselves. We provide all the parts you need to erect the building yourself. We can also put you in touch with a professional contractor to put up your building. Panels are easily handled and are clearly identified for assembly, generally with pre-punched electrical and plumbing service holes. Roof trusses are identified and easily secured to support the walls. Ceiling and roof battens are easily fixed to the trusses.