Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — in most cases, steel framing is faster and more efficient than traditional timber. Thanks to modern manufacturing and prefabrication techniques, steel frames arrive on-site straight, accurate, and ready to install, reducing build time and labour.

Why Steel Framing Saves Time

• Precision Prefabrication

Steel frames are manufactured off-site to exact specifications, meaning no warping, twisting, or on-site adjustments.

• No Drying Time

Steel doesn’t absorb moisture, so you don’t need to wait for frames to dry after rain — keeping your build on schedule.

• Pre-Punched Service Holes

Frames often come with holes pre-punched for electrical and plumbing, saving trades time and effort.

• Lightweight & Easy to Handle

Steel is lighter than timber, making frames easier to move, position, and install with smaller crews.

• Bottom Line

• For most residential and commercial builds — especially when using prefabricated systems — steel framing is faster, cleaner, and more consistent than timber. It’s a smart choice for speed, accuracy, and long-term performance

Steel framing is competitively priced — and in many cases, it can be more cost-effective than timber. For standard home designs, the cost of steel is typically similar to timber. But for homes with large open-plan layouts or complex architectural features, steel can often be the more economical choice due to its superior spanning ability and structural efficiency.

In addition to price, steel offers significant long-term value:

• It delivers exceptional structural strength.

• It contains no chemical treatments like those used in treated timber.

• It’s faster to erect, reducing on-site labour time and delays.

When you factor in these benefits, the overall constructed cost of a steel-framed home is often equal to or lower than timber — with the added advantage of a more durable, precise, and low-maintenance structure.

A lot. In fact, steel framing offers more design freedom than traditional timber.
Because of its superior strength-to-weight ratio, steel can span longer distances without needing internal load-bearing walls. That means you can achieve larger open-plan living areas, higher ceilings, and more architectural freedom — without compromising structural integrity.

Steel is also:

• Perfect for complex or custom designs like raked ceilings, curved walls, and cantilevers

• Precision-engineered, allowing exact replication of architectural details

• Dimensionally stable, so your design stays true over time — no warping, twisting, or shrinking

Whether you’re working with an architect or using a standard home plan, steel framing adapts to your vision and brings it to life — beautifully and accurately.

Exceptionally well. Steel framing is one of the best structural options for areas prone to earthquakes and strong winds.
Thanks to its high strength-to-weight ratio, steel framing can absorb and distribute seismic and wind forces more effectively than traditional materials like timber. It’s also:

• Non-combustible and ductilee, meaning it flexes without cracking or collapsing

• Engineered for precision, ensuring tight connections and consistent performance

• Resistant to warping, rotting, or weakening over time, preserving structural integrity long-term

Steel’s lightweight yet strong nature reduces the overall load on a building’s foundation and allows it to move safely with ground motion. In high-wind zones, steel’s rigidity and secure fixings provide superior resistance to uplift and racking forces.

Bottom line? Steel framing provides peace of mind — especially when safety matters most.

Our steel frames come standard with pre-punched 34mm service holes, making it simple to run electrical wiring and plumbing without extra prep work. Need more access points? Additional holes can be easily drilled or custom-punched to suit your project. For added protection, we also supply plastic grommets to safeguard cables and pipes — ensuring a clean, compliant finish every time.

If your house plans are already drawn for timber, converting to steel is a straightforward process. Steel framing is typically manufactured to match standard timber dimensions, so most designs can be adapted without major changes.
Your designer or architect can quickly adjust your existing plans to suit steel framing, and you might be surprised at how cost-competitive the switch can be. Plus, with steel’s added benefits — like strength, durability, and faster installation — it’s a smart, future-ready upgrade.

Steel’s high thermal conductivity is often seen as a drawback — but in reality, it’s one of its greatest strengths when properly managed. A thermal break is used to control temperature transfer and prevent condensation within the wall cavity.

With a thermal break in place, the internal steel components stay above the dew point, helping to eliminate the risk of condensation forming inside the frame. In contrast, timber studs can absorb moisture, especially in winter, leading to swelling, movement, and potential damage to wall linings. Over time, this can also increase the risk of mould and fungal growth.

By adding a thermal break, steel framing remains dry, stable, and healthy — year-round.

Absolutely. Steel framing has undergone rigorous seismic testing at Swinburne University in Melbourne — enduring forces far beyond anything experienced in New Zealand.

The results? No damage to the structural steel frames, and only minor movement in non-structural elements like brickwork. This outstanding performance is thanks to the inherent strength and flexibility of steel, which allows it to absorb and dissipate seismic energy without cracking, warping, or failing.

When it comes to earthquake resilience, steel framing is a proven performer you can trust.

Hanging pictures or artwork in a steel-framed home is straightforward — you just need the right type of fixing. Because steel studs are behind the wall lining (usually plasterboard or GIB®), you’ll either attach your picture to the wall lining or directly into the steel stud.

Here are your options

1. Light to Medium Pictures (up to ~10kg):
Use plasterboard picture hooks, toggle bolts, or adhesive hooks (like 3M Command™ strips) — no need to find a stud.

2. Heavier Items (10kg+):
Use self-drilling plasterboard anchors rated for heavier loads or locate a steel stud using a stud finder and attach using metal screws or specialty steel stud anchors.

3. Very Heavy Items (TVs, mirrors, shelves):
For maximum support, fix directly into the steel stud using self-tapping screws or fasteners designed for metal framing. A wall-mount bracket may be required depending on the item.

Steel studs are usually spaced at 600mm centres, so once you locate one, the rest are easy to find.

With the right hardware, your walls will hold just as securely

Yes — a separation barrier is required when steel framing comes into contact with treated timber. Timber treated with copper-based preservatives (such as CCA or ACQ) can cause corrosion in steel if there’s direct contact between the materials.

To prevent this, a simple protective barrier like DPC (damp-proof course), isolating foam strip, or bituminous tape should be installed wherever treated timber meets steel. This ensures long-term durability and helps maintain the integrity of your framing system.

Adding a barrier is quick, affordable, and essential — and it ensures your structure meets best-practice building standards.