Thread: Steel Frame V Timber Frame

The steel frames are galvanised plus they are sealed inside the cavity. They might rust where they have been cut though. I'd contact a manufacturer and see what gaurantees they give on the galvanising under your conditions. It doesn't last forever.

Maybe you'd be better with a treated timber frame? We're about to build in termite country and that's what we'll be using. Best thing I reckon is to concentrate on keeping them out. We got a quote on Termimesh for the piers and perimeter - about $2500 for a 36 square house. Might be slightly cheaper on a slab but you've got pipe penetrations there as well.

Looked at the steel frames but it seems too much trouble to me. All your electrical and possibly your plumbing has to have grommets fitted where it penetrates a frame member. Everything has to be screwed - no nails. Not a big deal but for me I'd rather bang in a nail than counter sink, screw and fill everything.

If you do go with steel a tin of cold gal used liberaly on any cut or bared steel will help, though I wouldn't suggest you do this ar the end of the framing , but as soon as you can on the bare metal ,

The trouble with life is there's no background music.

Cypress pine will keep the termites at bay in the frame at least. If they get in they will still eat the trims etc.

My son is a firey - they don't like steel frames. A timber frame when burnt - even chared right through still retains some strength and will remain standing long after a steel frame has weakened and collapsed from the heat (remember
9/11)

As mentioned cyprees pine and treated timber will keep the blighters at bay.

David L

what is the difference in expense and quality between cypress pine and LOSP? from your suggestions I think I've gone off steel frame, it just seems a bit too dodgy this close to the beach.
thanks for the good advice and feel free to keep it coming!

Lsop is the way to go, is avablible off the shelf and most frame & truss guys having it in there yards expect to add about 20% to the cost of un-treated pine. It also comes with a warrinty from the treatment firm, so if it does get eatten its no problem for you, cypress you are just really relieing on the natural properties of the timber, plus it has heaps of big knots.

PS all enginered beams are now aviaible treated and same with plywood flooring or particle board and some hardwoods (EG Spotted Gum) come treated as well.

SilentC is right when he says "Concentrate on keeping them out" Whatever your framing is, you still have lots of untreated timber (skirtings, window frames etc) and even the backing of the gyprock linings are edible to termites.
So have a talk with Termimesh to concentrate keeping them out first.

Could you repeat that please................

My god but you're quick Gumby

"that"

If I follow your advice and my paranoia on termites the house will end up like fort knox.
I like that thinking!

To continue with the Fort Knox theme, have Termimesh installed to the perimeter and penetrations, then consider an exposed slab edge and then have the perimeter trenched and sprayed with "Termidor" You can also have a reticulation system installed at the same time so its simple to "top up" the chemical in the future.
Then sleep easy knowing that you've done all you can.

Have the best of both worlds, build the house with a wooden frame on metal(real stuff not that thin galv crap)stilts

It also comes with a warrinty from the treatment firm, so if it does get eatten its no problem for you

Termimesh give a 10 year timber warranty as well, so if they get past the mesh and eat the treated pine, someone is going to have to cough up for it.

I had a chat to our local Termimesh contractor the other day. They have to be certified installers and Termimesh does spot check audits on them - they come on site and check their work. If anything goes wrong down the track, the subbie is liable, so it gives them a bit of incentive to get it right.