Also known as a kit home, building a steel framed house has become more and more popular in Australia in recent years. The steel framed home is a fully tried and tested product. Yet, dubious myths still exist regarding the use of steel framed homes. Some concerned consumers are unconvinced that steel is a suitable material to build their home. This is largely due to a simple lack of knowledge of the product. In reality, there are countless benefits of building a steel framed house. Today, we’ll bust the common myths we’ve heard about steel framed homes.
MYTH: Steel framed homes will rust.
BUSTED: Steel frames are treated with specialised coatings that protect them against corrosion.
Steel framed homes are protected from corrosion and rust. The steel is coated with a protective coating, often made from aluminium and zinc. The galvanic action or sacrificial protection of the coating will keep the exposed steel edges protected from corrosion.
MYTH: Steel framed homes risk lightning strikes.
BUSTED: Lightning has less effect on steel.
Contrary to the myth, lightning has less effect on a steel framed home. This is because lightning is a positive conductor to the ground. It therefore, will not be released within the frame of the steel home. Homes made out of any material, such as brick, timber or steel, are at equal risk of being struck by lightning.
MYTH: Steel framed homes are noisier than brick or timber homes.
BUSTED: Steel framed homes create no more sound than other homes.
This myth has been debunked by the CSIRO. The CSIRO’s findings revealed that most people living in steel framed houses reported no sound emitted from the frame. On the off chance they did, they said it was not a problem. Interestingly, some occupants of the steel framed homes admitted their noise levels were lower than that of timber framed homes.
MYTH: Steel framed homes are weaker than brick homes.
BUSTED: Steel is strong – roughly 1,000 times stronger than iron in its purest form.
Steel is a robust and strong building material. It is roughly 1,000 times stronger than iron in its purest form and can be recycled without losing any strength or integrity. This actually makes steel an incredibly popular choice for home renovations and home improvement projects. Steel framed homes will not twist, sag or shrink. This makes home maintenance easier, as the occurrence of cracks and door jamming are reduced. On top of this, steel is a non-combustible building material.
MYTH: Steel framed houses contract and expand with temperature changes.
BUSTED: Steel has a closer rate of expansion compared to wood and plasterboard.
All homes will expand and contract with temperature changes. Although we can’t control the weather, steel framed houses are actually prefered in regions that face extreme temperature fluctuations. This is because steel has a closer rate of expansion compared to wood and plasterboard. This practically eliminates plaster cracks. Also, in stark contrast to wood, steel is not susceptible to moisture. Timber, on the other hand, will swell and contract when exposed to moisture.
MYTH: A steel framed home interferes with Wi-Fi and mobile reception.
BUSTED: No reports have emerged of Wi-Fi and mobile reception interference.
Steel frames have been in wide use across Australia and the globe. If steel framed homes were causing any problems with Wi-Fi or mobile connection in our digitally driven world, renovators and builders would not continue to use them. No reports have emerged complaining of interference with Wi-Fi or mobile signals in homes and buildings made with a steel frame.
MYTH: Steel framed houses will interrupt television and radio reception.
BUSTED: Electro-magnetic waves will efficiently diffract around steel.
Waves will pass through the spaces between the studs of a steel framed home. This ensures uninterrupted use of any household appliance, including your television or radio.
MYTH: You won’t be able to finance a steel framed home.
BUSTED: Most lenders understand the benefits of steel frames homes.
Steel framed homes have only continued to rise in popularity. Their continued success in Australia has been recognised by most lenders. While some lenders may avoid providing finance for steel framed homes, this trend should continue to decline as more and more builders see the advantage of building with steel.
If you’ve ever let these myths deter you from building a steel framed home, we hope you’ve found our myth-busting article helpful! It’s been great to witness the popularity of steel framed homes continue to rise in recent times. At E M Steel, we take pride in providing the highest quality steel fabrication services to our customers. Our talented team brings their decades of industry experience to every job they complete. If you have any questions about steel supplies or steel fabrication services, get in touch with our friendly team today.
