Standards, markets and what is changing in steel framing. In this article we walk through what we have learned on real projects, with numbers you can use.
Cost and time
Steel prices move, but the labour saving is consistent. On a 120 m² single-storey house we usually see:
- Framing time: 3–5 days with a crew of four.
- Waste: under 2% of coil, versus 10–15% for site-cut timber.
- Rework: near zero when the model is clean.
The biggest hidden cost is a late design change. Freeze the model before you form the first panel.
Typical section sizes
The table below lists the profiles we see most often on two-storey residential work. Always confirm with your engineer — loads, spans and local codes vary.
| Element | Profile | Gauge (mm) | Max spacing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Load-bearing wall | C89 × 41 | 0.95 | 600 mm | Single storey above |
| Load-bearing wall | C89 × 41 | 1.15 | 400 mm | Two storeys above |
| Partition | C70 × 35 | 0.75 | 600 mm | Non-structural |
| Floor joist | C200 × 50 | 1.55 | 450 mm | Spans up to 4.2 m |
| Roof truss chord | C89 × 41 | 0.95 | 1200 mm | Webbed truss |
What to do next
Start small: pick one wall type, run it end to end, and measure the time it takes. Once the team trusts the output, scale up to a full house. If you want a second pair of eyes on your model, upload it to LGSF Market and our engineers will review it.
