5 Common Uses For Steel In Your Home

Steel has been used in commercial buildings for many years. It is strong, durable, and generally faster to build with. This makes it the perfect option for constructing buildings. Surprisingly, it has only recently started to be used in residential properties.

The good news is that there are many different uses for steel in your home. The key, when using steel in your home, is to find reputable steel suppliers Sydney, this assures you of the quality of the product you are purchasing.

1. Foundations

Most modern homes are built on a concrete foundation, this creates a level base and helps to give the property strength. However, concrete is susceptible to the elements. As the soil around the concrete fills and drains with water, it will move slightly. This can cause sagging in the concrete which affects the stability of the house.

To overcome this, steel is often placed through the foundations, giving them extra strength and reducing the likelihood of sagging.

2. Raised Housing

If you need or even just want to raise your house on stilts then you need a material that can stand up to the elements. Traditionally, wood has been used although this rots when consistently exposed to moisture.

But, coated steel doesn’t suffer from this issue. Simply put the steel stilts in position and build your elevated home. It will last for years.

3. Structural Spans

Steel is much stronger than wood. That means it can be used to span large spaces, much larger than wood can, without any additional supports.

In other words, steel supports in your home allow you to have fewer internal walls and supports, opening up the possibility of an open-plan house.

It’s worth noting that the strength of steel also means that the house is less likely to succumb to extreme weather conditions, such as earthquakes.

4. Door Frames

Door frames, and specifically the lintels above them, are generally made of wood or concrete/stone. This makes them strong enough to support the wall above while allowing you to create a door opening. (The same is true for windows).

However, wood is affected by the moisture in the walls and this will eventually result in the frame sagging. To prevent this from being an issue, many modern builders are switching to metal frames. These will last much longer and are less likely to be damaged by moisture and other traditional issues.

5. House Frame

The frame of Australian houses is often wood. However, metal is becoming an increasingly popular choice. It is generally cheaper to build with, better for the environment, and much stronger. The fact that metal is also pest resistant means that your home is less likely to be targeted by pests, including the dreaded termite.

Metal house frames can be coated with metal or still look traditional with a wood coating. The choice is yours but either way, you know you have a stronger and more durable property. That’s the real benefit of steel in your home.