3 Reasons to Use Steel Wall Frames When You Build Your New Home
While you can use wood wall frames during your home build, you should consider the benefits of using lightweight steel instead. Steel wall frames have some advantages that you won't get from wood. Why might steel be a better material to use?
1. Get Wall Frames That Stay the Same Shape
While wood wall frames are strong, they can run into problems down the line. Wood can bend, warp and shift out of position. Even if a frame retains its strength, it might not give you the support you need.
If a wood frame changes shape, then you get knock-on effects inside your home. For example, you could start to see damage on your plaster if a frame flexes. The plaster could show ripple lines or even cracks. If the damage gets great enough, then the wall itself could start to sag.
Steel wall frames don't have flexing problems. Steel won't warp or change shape in the same way as wood. It stays straighter. So, your walls will get the support they need in all the right places for longer. You won't have to do any make-good work because the frame has changed shape or moved.
2. Get Pest-Resistant Wall Frames
The fact that you conceal wood wall frames inside your build won't necessarily keep the wood away from pests. Tiny creatures like termites can get inside a wall through the smallest of access points. Even treated wood loses some of its pest resistance over time. So, you have no guarantees that your frames will be safe.
If you install steel wall frames, then pests are simply not a problem. Steel has no benefits to any pests. They can't eat it. So, you get complete peace of mind that your wall frames will stay intact.
3. Get Better Fire Protection
Regular wood wall frames won't give you much protection if you have a fire in your home. They might even accelerate the fire so that it causes even more damage.
While you can install frames that are fire-rated, you still only get limited protection. Here, the timber is treated to make it more fire-resistant for a period of time. However, if a fire takes hold and turns into an uncontained blaze, then these frames might not be able to withstand the flames.
Steel wall frames are a better option here. Steel isn't combustible, so it can cope with the effects of fire more effectively without causing significant damage to the property.
For more information, contact wall frame suppliers and ask about their steel products.