DIY with Light Steel Frame Buildings - Do It Yourself Basics
In this short report as part of a collection of 15 reports in total we will be be looking at what is involved in creating a light steel frame house or alteration.
Let us follow the process of constructing a Steel Framed House. It can be divided into the following segments:
1.Initial design,
2.Foundation/slab,
3.Steel frame consisting of
4.External & Internal walls,
5.Roof structure,
6.External wall cladding,
7.Plumbing,
8.Electrical,
9.Insulation walls & floor/ceiling,
10.Internal wall cladding,
11.Ceiling installation,
12.Doors,
13.Glazing,
14.Kitchen & other Cupboards,
15.Painting.
There a numerous reasons why light steel frame is taking the market by storm, some are as follows.
1.Foundation – Light steel frame structures need a single slab as apposed to the traditional foundation which has to be accurately dug out according to the wall plans, reinforced with steel and then cast in concrete with a slab on top. The steel frame house requires a single slab. Any changes to the internal wall plans will not affect the single slab design, whereas with brick walls a change to the walls will require that the foundation walls will need to be adjusted or re-dug out accordingly.
2.Steel frame erection – Light steel frame provide a relatively quick process, a 6 m x 9 m x 2.7m heigh, light steel frame structure with roof take only one day (8 hours) to erect with one erector and 2 helpers, and it is completly level and square at all times. The traditional brick and mortar alteration of the same size requires the laying one brick on top of the other with the mortar in between whilst pre-leveling off each row. A good bricklayer can do 800 – 1000 bricks in a day. The sample project has 145.8 m2 of external wall that need to be done before the roof can be added. That equates to 16,038 bricks or 16 days of building from floor to ceiling height with one bricklayer and 2 helpers
3.External Walls – All panels are prefabricated with the door & window openings, as well as all relevant plumbing and electrical provisions is already in place. These openings are extremely accurate and allow quicker installation of windows & doors. The plumbing and electrical holes are pressed to accomodate condude or copper pipes in the height from floor where water and plug or light need to be. Insulation is inserted into all the wall cavities making the steel framed house more efficient to warm up in winter, or cool down in summer.
4.Internal walls – Internal walls are added to the external wallls as per the light steel frame plan. Insulation adds to the overall comfort of the home and enhances the acoustic values. Electrical and other wire management is easily facilitated inside the wall cavity. Hanging pictures or other décor items is simple to do. Walls once clad with the required internal cladding material are perfectly flat and smooth leaving the home with an elegant look. Walls and corners are virtually completely square which makes the planning and fitting of kitchens and other cupboards a quick and simple process.
5.Installation – installation time is a lot quicker than brickwork. Brickwork usually also requires additional rendering to each side to acquire a flat surface to hide the bricks.
6.Number of personnel - Another advantage is that the steel frame contractor requires fewer personnel on site than the builder of a brick house needs to build the same size house. This is due to the skill levels required during the erection, cladding and finishing stages. Light steel framer are normally certified erectors and only need 3 – 6 staff members to complete a 200 m2 building. The qualified Plumber and Electrician is required for both building methods and is therefore not taken into account.
Go now and Order your copy.
In this short report as part of a collection of 15 reports in total we will be be looking at what is involved in creating a light steel frame house or alteration.
Let us follow the process of constructing a Steel Framed House. It can be divided into the following segments:
1.Initial design,
2.Foundation/slab,
3.Steel frame consisting of
4.External & Internal walls,
5.Roof structure,
6.External wall cladding,
7.Plumbing,
8.Electrical,
9.Insulation walls & floor/ceiling,
10.Internal wall cladding,
11.Ceiling installation,
12.Doors,
13.Glazing,
14.Kitchen & other Cupboards,
15.Painting.
There a numerous reasons why light steel frame is taking the market by storm, some are as follows.
1.Foundation – Light steel frame structures need a single slab as apposed to the traditional foundation which has to be accurately dug out according to the wall plans, reinforced with steel and then cast in concrete with a slab on top. The steel frame house requires a single slab. Any changes to the internal wall plans will not affect the single slab design, whereas with brick walls a change to the walls will require that the foundation walls will need to be adjusted or re-dug out accordingly.
2.Steel frame erection – Light steel frame provide a relatively quick process, a 6 m x 9 m x 2.7m heigh, light steel frame structure with roof take only one day (8 hours) to erect with one erector and 2 helpers, and it is completly level and square at all times. The traditional brick and mortar alteration of the same size requires the laying one brick on top of the other with the mortar in between whilst pre-leveling off each row. A good bricklayer can do 800 – 1000 bricks in a day. The sample project has 145.8 m2 of external wall that need to be done before the roof can be added. That equates to 16,038 bricks or 16 days of building from floor to ceiling height with one bricklayer and 2 helpers
3.External Walls – All panels are prefabricated with the door & window openings, as well as all relevant plumbing and electrical provisions is already in place. These openings are extremely accurate and allow quicker installation of windows & doors. The plumbing and electrical holes are pressed to accomodate condude or copper pipes in the height from floor where water and plug or light need to be. Insulation is inserted into all the wall cavities making the steel framed house more efficient to warm up in winter, or cool down in summer.
4.Internal walls – Internal walls are added to the external wallls as per the light steel frame plan. Insulation adds to the overall comfort of the home and enhances the acoustic values. Electrical and other wire management is easily facilitated inside the wall cavity. Hanging pictures or other décor items is simple to do. Walls once clad with the required internal cladding material are perfectly flat and smooth leaving the home with an elegant look. Walls and corners are virtually completely square which makes the planning and fitting of kitchens and other cupboards a quick and simple process.
5.Installation – installation time is a lot quicker than brickwork. Brickwork usually also requires additional rendering to each side to acquire a flat surface to hide the bricks.
6.Number of personnel - Another advantage is that the steel frame contractor requires fewer personnel on site than the builder of a brick house needs to build the same size house. This is due to the skill levels required during the erection, cladding and finishing stages. Light steel framer are normally certified erectors and only need 3 – 6 staff members to complete a 200 m2 building. The qualified Plumber and Electrician is required for both building methods and is therefore not taken into account.
Go now and Order your copy.
