Building big with steel
Truecore steel
Several owner/builders in Western Australia are turning to steel framing to help them build larger and elaborately designed homes in less time.
One owner/builder couple, Janet and Phil Groenewold from Baldivis, South of Perth, are in the process of constructing a huge, 1,069m² house.
The house, which will home the couple and their four children, features five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a guest room, library, kitchen, laundry, activity room, mud room, scullery, home theatre and a cabana which incorporates an indoor/outdoor kitchen, two bunk rooms and bathroom facilities to complement the pool and outdoor entertaining area.
The structure has been built entirely of steel framing made from Truecore steel from Bluescope Steel . Truecore steel can span the large area of the house, saving time in construction and allowing for a greater choice of wall claddings.
Janet explains, “We wanted to move away from the traditional double brick structure and use framing made from Truecore steel as it was the only material that could accommodate the large, complex building design and proved significantly more cost effective than traditional bricks and mortar.
“We were already well aware of the benefits of using steel as Phil is in the steel business and understands the way the products work. This is the first project that we have done as owner/builders, so we wanted to get everything right from the start.”
The huge house frame was manufactured and installed by Roofmart WA, Perth. Phil Batt, manager of the framing division at Roofmart WA, adds: “We are starting to see a move away from double brick towards steel framing. This is most evident in the owner/builder market as the frames are easy to install and take less time to construct than double brick or timber. In fact, a house with a steel frame can be constructed in as little as nine months, as opposed to 18 for timber or brick.”
Once completed, the house is expected to have a five star energy rating due to the capture of sunlight from the north facing living areas, thermal mass walls and a roof made from Colorbond steel. The house is due for completion by Christmas 2008.
23-Jul-2008