DIY Roof Repairs for Homeowners

Choosing the Right Material for Framing a New House

3 March 2015

Fernando Silva

If you're having a new home built, you may need to decide on the material for the frame. While your contractor can help you determine the best choice for you, it's good to ensure you know the differences in the materials that are commonly available. After all, you'll be the one paying for the materials and the one to live in the house once it's built. Note some important factors about the three most common materials used for framing a house.

1. Wood studs

Wood studs are probably the most commonly used material for house frames. Their advantage is that they're easy to cut and fabricate so they won't hold up the construction schedule, and they're also very affordable. They're also recyclable, in case you want to renovate your home down the road.

However, standard wood studs tend to shrink and expand over time as they absorb moisture, and they may need to be treated to avoid infestation from termites and other pests. They are also not very fire-resistant, and using wood studs means needing load-bearing walls and beams to hold up the frame of the house, which might limit your design options.

2. Steel frames

Steel frames are more fire-resistant than wood studs, and steel is also completely recyclable. Steel doesn't expand or shrink over time and is resistant to pests, including termites. It also won't mold or rot. Steel is very strong, so it's often preferred in areas where a home may be exposed to natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, or hurricanes.

The disadvantages of steel is that it may be more difficult to fabricate; bolting and cutting steel may take longer than when working with wood studs. It may also need to be cut offsite and then transported to your new property, which can also delay construction. It may also be more expensive than standard wood studs.

3. Timber frames

Timber-framed homes have a very open feeling to them, because timber is strong enough to hold up the weight of the home so there is no need for load-bearing walls and beams. This gives you more choices for the overall footprint of the home as you can put walls where you want them or keep the floor plan open. Timber is also very fire-resistant, as it is dense and doesn't hold air inside the beams, so fires cannot be fed if they reach timber frames. They are also recyclable.

Timber frames need to be treated so they do not host pests such as termites, and, in some cases, may shrink or expand over time. For more information, contact a business such as Wadsworth Joinery.

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