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Across the globe the residential construction industry is undergoing something of a revolution. This is the result of major technological advances in the manufacture of cold-formed steel (CFS) frames or skeletons, as they are more commonly known.
Admittedly steel is not a new construction material, hot rolled steel providing the frame for many a commercial structure. However, this form of steel used in construction has been beset with one major problem – a distinct lack of precision. Consequently, when assembling a substantial skeleton, a considerable amount of time and materials are invariably wasted as lengths are trimmed to fit.
CFS has now become quite popular in the construction of major commercial spaces, such as factories and warehouses owing the ability to span substantial lengths and create large spaces without internal obstructions. However, more recently that the focus of attention has turned to the benefits of CFS for the skeletons of domestic or residential properties.
There have been two major influences on the production of CFS frames that has helped dramatically change the landscape. First, the technological advances in the machinery used to manufacture CFS components that are used to create wall panels and trusses. Second, is the development of the software and the programs for 'printing off' the steel skeletons with precision accuracy that has not, until recently been seen in the industry.
Put simply, perfect in (the software for the designs of frames) equals perfect out (precision accuracy) found in the necessary elements to create the wall frames and roof trusses needed.
So, how has this changed the landscape?
For a start, CFS is a far better material than timber or lumber to build with. It doesn't warp, shrink, twist or expand, and it doesn't burn in a fire. In addition, when building a frame for a house, there is usually a 20% waste of materials when using wood, yet less than 1% when using CFS. And the steel used is 95% recyclable, so it has genuinely green credentials.
The machinery in question has been developed by a company in New Zealand called Framecad. The company spotted a need for properties with steel skeletons in Australia because of the destructive nature of fauna such as termites and wood boring insects, and set about creating a 'printing' machine to accurately produce all the elements which, when assembled, created wall panels and roof trusses that could very quickly be assembled once delivered on site. With these steel panels and trusses, the skeleton for a modest property can be erected in just days as opposed to weeks, and you don't need costly, skilled workmen like joiners to be present, just a handful of people with relatively practical DIY skills.
Where this is revolutionising things is in the realm of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), also known as affordable housing. With the dramatic reduction in time to erect a skeleton for an ADU, the costs of construction are also greatly reduced, resulting in more people being able to afford to buy their own property and a boom in the number of competent DIYers who are choosing to build their own property. The beauty of CFS skeletons and ADUs is that it is very easy to design either an independent unit, or a unit attached to an existing property, making it a much more affordable solution for the elderly wanting live-in care without giving up their independence, or for an expanding family who doesn't want to relocate. From a practical point of view, there are multiple scenarios where steel-skeleton ADUs have become a game changer.
In reality, there are only two things you need in order to build a property that will last you a lifetime – solid foundations and a robust frame or skeleton. Thanks to the teaming up of Framecad with Frame Up Now, the latter is all but guaranteed.
