| When choosing between timber or steel frames | | | | features important, because they make the job |
| and trusses for your kit home, there are several | | | | simpler all around. |
| considerations to keep in mind. These | | | | One of the big advantages of steel construction is |
| considerations involve many factors such as the | | | | the fact steel beams are not as heavy as wood |
| location of your kit home, the exposure to certain | | | | timbers. Yet steel is stronger than wood even |
| environmental and climatic conditions, and your | | | | though it weighs less. When you live in an area |
| budget. But whether you choose timber or steel, | | | | with high winds, steel framing and trusses provide |
| you can be assured you are buying a quality | | | | extra protection against the weather. |
| home to meet your family needs. | | | | Steel is also recommended for areas which are |
| Don't Pester Me | | | | subject to frequent wild fires or are built in areas |
| Choosing between timber or steel frames | | | | where the fire threat is high. A wood home is |
| sometimes comes down to considering the pests | | | | much more likely to catch on fire quickly, and |
| where you will be building. Termite damage in | | | | once on fire, the damage is extensive. Steel |
| Australian homes costs home owners millions of | | | | framed home are better able to withstand fire |
| dollars every year in repairs. A steel framed and | | | | threats and will sustain less damage than wood |
| trussed kit home provides extra protection | | | | framed homes. |
| against termites. There's not a termite in the | | | | Another reason why steel frames and trusses |
| world that can eat its way through steel! If you | | | | may be desirable over wood in a particular home |
| live in an area with termites, steel is the best | | | | is the fact steel can span a longer distance than |
| choice for your home construction. | | | | wood. When you custom design your home as an |
| It should be mentioned that the framing for wood | | | | open floor plan, you may need to choose steel |
| and steel is very similar. The differences are quite | | | | over wood to meet construction standards. |
| few. Steel doesn't have to settle like wood. That | | | | Don't Forget Wood |
| means steel framing is ideal for locations where | | | | Despite all the advantages of using steel for |
| there is a lot of moisture. Unlike wood, steel will | | | | framing and trusses, houses built with wood have |
| not expand and contract when exposed to | | | | pluses also. Wood costs less than steel so when |
| different moisture amounts in the air. Though the | | | | termites or extreme weather are not problems, |
| wood used in kit homes is of high quality and | | | | wood is a good choice. Wood is a versatile |
| always properly treated and sealed, wood is | | | | material for construction purposes also. You can |
| sensitive to moisture. A steel frame never has | | | | easily adapt design any floor plan or house style |
| the possibility of warping, shrinking, splitting or | | | | using wood. |
| twisting due to moisture. | | | | Choosing between timber or steel frames and |
| I Can Handle That | | | | trusses for your kit home requires an evaluation |
| Many people choose to build their own kit homes | | | | of the environmental features of the area in |
| in order to reduce labour costs. Steel frames are | | | | which you will be building. But the one thing you |
| already punch holed, weigh less and do not need | | | | can be sure of.....the steel and wood kit home will |
| to be chemically treated like wood. Owners who | | | | be well built and enduring. |
| decide to build their own kit homes find these | | | | |