Timber vs Steel Framing: Which Is Right for Your Build?
An honest comparison of timber and steel wall framing for Newcastle and Hunter homes, covering cost, termites, thermal performance and buildability.
Service
Timber & Steel Framing in Newcastle
Wall frames, roof trusses, floor systems and structural steel set out square and plumb to engineering.
Framing is the part nobody sees and everything depends on. A frame that is out by a few millimetres becomes a kitchen that will not fit, a door that will not close and a roofline that reads crooked from the street. We set out carefully, check as we go, and install to the engineer’s drawings rather than to what is quick.
What this covers
- Timber and steel wall framing
- Roof trusses, rafters and cathedral ceilings
- Structural steel beams, posts and portal frames
- Suspended and platform floor systems
- Subfloor, bearers and joists
- Load-bearing wall removal and re-support
Why people call us for this
What goes wrong in a frame is hidden by the time you notice it. A lintel too light for the opening lets the door head sag. A beam landed on one stud with nothing under it crushes the plate. Missing tie-down lets the roof lift in a storm. A frame lined wet shrinks and cracks the plaster. We follow every load down to the footing, fit the bracing and tie-down to the engineering before it is covered, and let a wet frame dry before the linings go on.
Every job gets an itemised written quote, a written program and one point of contact from the first site visit through to handover.
Get a quote for your framing
Tell us what you are planning and we will come out for a look. Free, and with no obligation to go ahead.
Advice
Reading on framing
Practical guides we have written on this, drawn from jobs around Newcastle and the Hunter.
Why a Square Frame Matters More Than You Think
How small errors in framing compound through a build, what they cost to fix later, and why the frame stage deserves more attention than it usually gets.
Structural Steel in Home Renovations: When and Why
When a renovation needs structural steel rather than timber, how beams are sized and supported, and what it costs to open up a Newcastle home.
Subfloors, Bearers and Joists: What Goes Wrong Underneath
How a suspended timber floor works, the problems that develop in older Newcastle homes, and what a bouncy or sloping floor is actually telling you.
FAQ
Framing questions
Do you do framing for other builders?
Yes. We take on framing and structural carpentry as a trade package for builders and owner-builders across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter.
Get Started
Planning a build? Let us take a look.
Tell us what you have in mind and we will come out, walk the site with you and give you an honest, itemised quote. No obligation, no pressure.