Should You Go With A Steel Frame Or A Timber Frame?

If you’re about the commence a build on a new house project, whether it be big or small, you should already be overwhelmed with all the decisions you’ll need to make, particularly if you want to add a lot of interesting design touches.

One of the things you’ll need to consider that is also frequently overlooked is what kind of frame you decide to go with on the project.

Deciding between these two frames is not always an easy decision, so in this article, we take a look at what you need to know in order to give you a better idea of what the right choice for you might be.

 

Why you might opt for steel

Choosing the right bits and pieces for your project may seem confusing at the best of times, but rest assured – regardless of whether you’re looking into the services of a local builder or granny flat builders in Port Macquarie, choosing between timber and steel frames will typically follow the same principles.

Each frame material will have its own set of advantages and disadvantages, so ensuring you understand the relevant differences between cost, longevity, sustainability, and flexibility should mean that your project goes exactly the way you want it to.

Steel frames can often be the preferred choice for some new home builders due to the strength of the material ensuring the frame lasts much longer, with the added benefit of being termite-proof.

Steel has the added benefit of being quite environmentally friendly due to it being such a recyclable material, plus there’s the added benefit of steel providing a better seal around door frames and windows, which helps minimize power costs due to far improved circulation.

This does come at a price, however – steel is a more expensive material to use when compared to timber, and if you have a larger project planned this cost can very quickly add up.

 

Why a timber frame might be for you

Timber frames are undoubtedly seen as the tried and true frame for houses, and there are a lot of good reasons for this.

Timber is a completely non-toxic material, so it’s completely safe to work with and doesn’t leak, plus it is very readily accessible and can be sourced without too much issue at all.

As with steel, timber is quite environmentally friendly, and particularly so if you are able to find sustainable, ethically-sourced timber (which we would highly recommend).

Timber is also highly recommended due to it being such a flexible material – unlike steel, timber can be modified on-site if things ever go wrong (which they do), so that you can save both time and money due to this otherwise being extremely difficult with steel.

Plus, there’s the big advantage of all this being provided at a smaller overall cost, which can help your budget get stretched a little bit further than otherwise possible.

 

Which is the right choice for you?

It should be clear through reading this article that there is no perfect choice for a frame when building a new home.

But if that idea in itself causes you to stress, there’s absolutely no reason to do so – even though both of these frames have their own advantages and disadvantages, neither demonstrate any qualities that are negative enough to really impact a house (otherwise they wouldn’t be used, after all!)

With this in mind, it’s often about weighing up the pros and cons for yourself, particularly when it comes to budget.