The construction process and features of metal frame houses

Metal frame homes are a contemporary method of building homes that combine strength, efficiency, and design flexibility. In contrast to conventional wood-framed homes, which depend on wood for structural integrity, metal frame homes use steel or aluminum frames as the building’s framework. Increased strength-to-weight ratio, resistance to rot and pests, and the capacity to span longer distances without the need for intermediary supports are just a few benefits of this method.

Detailed architectural blueprints that outline the arrangement and measurements of the steel or aluminum frame are usually the first step in the construction process of metal frame homes. Because these frames are manufactured off-site to exact measurements, consistency and accuracy throughout the building process are guaranteed. The frames are assembled and fastened on the construction site in accordance with the engineered specifications, forming the house’s structural framework. This first stage is critical because it establishes the integrity and resilience of the building as a whole.

The versatility of metal frame homes’ designs is one of their most distinctive qualities. Architects and homeowners can explore open floor plans, large windows, and creative facades that might be difficult with traditional materials because of the inherent strength of steel or aluminum.

What is a metal profile building??

In the past, Russia used metal profiles (LSTC) for frame prefabricated houses primarily for industrial, utility, and technical buildings.

Due to metal’s high thermal conductivity, it was uncommon in the construction of private homes because the expense of heating a house exceeded average levels. However, things have significantly changed as a result of technological advancements and increased familiarity with these kinds of frames.

The basic idea behind building a house on steel enclosing structures is that the structure is put together on a hollow frame support consisting of profiles that are secured together. Once a strong, sturdy framework is established, the primary wall components featuring waterproofing and insulation layers are fastened to it.

In Canada, LSTK was first applied in the 1950s. Unique thermal profiles were developed over time. The issue of heat retention and a few other drawbacks were totally resolved by combining these technologies with efficient insulation.

Steel profile housing is very popular in the USA and Japan because it requires little specialized equipment and labor at low costs.

This article examines the design and special qualities of metal frame homes, which are becoming more and more common in contemporary building techniques. Because of their strength, energy efficiency, and adaptability in design, metal frame homes can be used in a variety of climates and architectural styles. We’ll examine the components utilized, the method of construction, and the benefits these buildings have over conventional wood-framed homes. Knowing the basics of metal frame construction will give you important insights into this cutting-edge housing solution, whether you’re thinking about building a new home or are interested in learning more about sustainable building options.

When and where is construction appropriate?

Metal profile frame houses can be built under any circumstances; there are no unique limitations. Let’s examine how this kind of construction is impacted by the environment:

• Sometimes it is believed that such buildings are not for particularly cold climates, but this is not true: insulation materials are used that can completely solve the problem of thermal efficiency. Here it is especially important to pay attention to the quality of insulation in order to minimize cold bridges.
• The maritime climate, it would seem, would have the most warnings – the air in such regions especially strongly provokes intense corrosion. But this is not true: this will not affect the profile in any way, since it is protected by cladding, insulating layers.
• High humidity will also not affect in any way. In this parameter, LSTC is much better than deformable profiled timber (laminated timber is better, but much more expensive).
• There are no warnings for dry, hot conditions.
• Seismically dangerous zones. Here LSTC is not only possible, but also desirable – the structure is extremely resistant to vibrations, shocks. Such houses are popular in Japan. The structure (but only up to 3 floors) does not shrink, withstands shocks even at 9 points.

Similar to wood, metal profiles can be used for low-rise buildings, cottages, summer homes, and superstructures/extensions (balconies, attics) in frame housing.

The profile pipe is more practical because of how quickly it can be assembled, particularly in the latter scenario. This is a great option for outbuildings and garages, even ones where there may be room for habitation.

In 2010, a common misconception among Russian Federation residents and builders was that LSTC was exclusively used to build technical buildings and retail spaces. However, things have drastically changed from then on. Everywhere you look, you can find residential buildings constructed with metal profiles; they are just as common as those made of wood.

Standard popular buildings based on LSTK include one-story buildings with nearly infinite floor plans, ranging from several square meters to fully furnished homes with garages, as well as two-story cottages measuring 150 to 200 square meters. Making different extensions, storage rooms, and tiny technical rooms from the profile is convenient.

Requirements for parameters and designs

The primary LSTC norms are outlined in SP 260.1325800. However, there are very few or no standards specifically for profile frames; instead, foreign regulations (EN), manufacturer projects and technical specifications (TS) (Baltprofile, for instance, is arguably the most authoritative), and developer companies are utilized more frequently.

Most factories that specialize in metal can provide you with profiles and corner beams in any assortment. Since standard hardware and fasteners are used, there won’t be any issues with them either.

Conditions:

• The frame and roof sheathing are assembled from profiles of identical quality. The material must have the same expansion coefficients for high-quality unification of elements into a solid structure that guarantees strength and perfectly dampens vibration. When using metal with different coefficients, the sheathing will rattle, the joints will loosen and weaken.
• For housing, they take not a simple profile, but a thermal one. Exceptions are objects in a warm climate, seasonal summer cottages.
• Hydro-, windproof layers are mandatory, since the frame is light, the elements are thin, narrow, there is an increased risk of blowing. The same applies to vapor barrier, so that condensation does not accumulate. Usually, thermal insulation is always used, even for warm climates, since it simultaneously acts as sound insulation.
• The appearance of cold bridges should be minimized by proper installation of insulation.

The basic calculation formulas and comprehensive requirements for thickness, weight, cross-section, and profile shape can be found in SP 260.

What materials are they built from??

SP 260 (p. 5.6.5) states that hot-rolled and composite welded parts are also utilized in addition to cold-formed galvanized profiles. Typically, a zinc coating has a thickness of 18 to 40 microns. Although hot rolled elements cost more, they are far more robust. The sheets that are used to make them are between 0.7 and 2 mm thick.

It is SP 260 that specifies the parameters:

1. For cold-formed profiles, cold-rolled products (1…4.5 mm) are used from carbon steel coated with zinc on continuous galvanizing equipment. Accuracy category in terms of thickness, width is increased, flatness is normal, edge is cut, zinc layer is not lower than 275 g/sq.m. m. Steel grade: in the range from 220 to 450 or according to GOST 14918.
2. You can use thin-sheet steel profiles coated with aluminum zinc or zinc aluminum. The protective layer must meet classes that provide the required corrosion resistance.
3. If it is necessary to enhance anti-corrosion resistance, then bent and corrugated sections from hot-dip galvanized, cold-rolled painted sheets are used.
4. It is possible to use imported steels with parameters according to SP 260.
5. Auxiliary elements – fittings, fasteners, support plates – made of steel not lower than class C255.
6. Main types of connections:
7. bolted (self-tapping, self-drilling screws);
8. on pull-out rivets;
9. other hardware – shot-on dowels, combined rivets – can be used in accordance with current technical conditions and standards of organizations.
10. Welded joints can be used if necessary according to TU. They must comply with SP 16.13330 (subsection. 14.1) and be performed in factory conditions with anti-corrosion protection of the weld zone. But are prohibited in unheated rooms (below -45 ° C) LSTC with electric arc connection and contact welding.

The framework for enclosed structures is a prefabricated post-and-beam structure. First-class galvanized profile, weighing 275 g per square meter with an anti-corrosion layer ranging from 18 to 40 microns. Its thickness typically falls between 1-2 mm.

Just a thermal profile should be used for housing in order to minimize thermal conductivity and achieve high thermal resistance through slotted perforation with a small cross-section.

You can take a regular if the conditions (warm climate, seasonal country houses) don’t require much heat preservation.

The profile’s specific requirements are listed in SP 160:

The floor and ceiling are covered with special beams in addition to expert pipes. Similar components come together to form a rafter system.

Let’s talk about insulation and wall materials:

1. The inside of the room is most often sheathed with two sheets of plasterboard (12.5 mm) or gypsum plasterboard.
2. Next (towards the street) a vapor barrier is fixed to the gypsum board – polyethylene 0.1…0.2 mm, resistant to aging.
3. Then – insulation: mineral wool (most often). For a better effect, another layer is often installed: mini-slab, polystyrene foam.
4. Next – hydro-wind protection.
5. Lathing for siding, ventilated façade, sandwich panels.

Employ standard insulating materials. Although there are many different kinds of insulation, mineral basalt wool is the most widely used because it is affordable, has good qualities, and is particularly effective at insulating against sound, which is crucial for LSTC frame homes.

Subtypes of metal frame houses

Traditionally, the number of stories, purpose, and size can be used to categorize all LSTC frame homes into different types.

By number of storeys

The "skeletons" of multi-story solid technical, commercial, administrative, and even high-rise apartment buildings are easily recognizable to all; they use LMK (I-beams, channels, angles, square and round pipes) instead of LSTC.

We are talking about thin-walled, lightweight steel structures. Additionally, there are limitations here:

• spans – length up to 14 – 18 m;
• number of storeys – up to 4 – 5 floors.

Citation! It is thought that a home built of LSTC can have up to four floors, which is the most economically viable number of stories. In actuality, the majority of metal profile homes are only two stories high with an attic superstructure.

Assembling extensions for pre-existing structures made of different materials, superstructures, and attics is easy with LSTK.

Ready-made kits are available for ceiling, wall, and roofing systems. They can be applied singly or in combination.

One benefit of building a one-story house out of LSTK is that the most basic frame can be put together without the need for partitions.

On the other hand, intricately shaped trusses with longer span lengths are employed as internal reinforcing structures when building a large building from a profile.

By purpose

With LSTK, buildings of any kind can be built. Apart from the aforementioned, there are no limitations. Permanent housing needs to be well-insulated and built with thermal profiles. You can use standard enclosing structures instead of the above for a seasonal dacha structure. This also holds true for non-residential properties.

By size

Change houses and garages are examples of small buildings up to 50 m2 that are composed of LSTK. Large ones start at 150 m2, which is already two stories; medium ones are up to 150 sq. m. The benefit of the first two types is that, in cases where the building lacks a basement or ground floor, they are typically constructed on steel screw piles or columnar foundations. A steel channel strapping beam, measuring 16 to 22 mm, is fixed atop these supports.

A prefabricated strip base might be necessary for a two-story building, but it depends on the specifics of the project. A monolithic foundation platform is an additional option.

Additional benefits of LSSK construction for small buildings:

• The project is simple or not needed, there are many standard drawings, calculations are also elementary or completely absent, you can apply the minimum acceptable requirements for the profile.
• Extremely quick assembly, the work can be done with your own hands with a minimum of tools – you only need a screwdriver. The building is assembled like a designer on site.
• Can be transported, assembled/disassembled (with self-tapping screws this will be easier).

Even one or two people can manage the assembly of a small country house or cabin; larger structures are more difficult to put together by hand.

By type of design

Differentiating between the following options based on design type:

1. Classic – prefabricated panel (panel). The frame is covered with sheets of plasterboard.
2. Double frame filled with polystyrene concrete or foam concrete. In fact, a monolithic house is being created. Pros: there are no cold bridges, communications are laid inside the walls, the geometry of which is ideal, you can choose any thickness.
3. Depending on the foundation:
4. A structure on a columnar or pile foundation – most common, economically advantageous, with low labor costs.
5. On a monolithic slab.
6. Strip foundations are the most labor-intensive option; for frames they are used somewhat less frequently. It is usually equipped for buildings of 2 floors or more, although they can also be erected from lightweight steel frames on lighter foundations.

Counseling! The option with a double frame filled with polystyrene concrete should be taken into consideration if you plan to construct exceptionally high-quality prefabricated housing from metal profiles.

Housing from ready-made kits

A typical project requires four workers to assemble a metal profile structure in three to four weeks. The building will be completed in two to three months.

If a manufacturer has builders on staff, it is best to order a house kit from them and hire them directly, or get their contact information.

Finding assemblers is a good idea first, as not all teams work with metal profile frames. Next, decide on a project and a manufacturer.

Everything needed to assemble the structure is included in ready-made kits. Bundled materials are shipped from the factory. Every component has markings that match the same working drawing designations. This kit is put together similarly to a construction kit; all the parts are ready, including stamped fastener holes.

Ordering profiles for projects that the building’s future owner personally sketches out is a common practice; examples of this type of work can be found on dedicated forums. However, this option might need to be adjusted; an LSTK cutting tool is needed.

Building from a typical factory house kit:

Options for layouts and projects

Let’s examine the most widely used LSTK standard housing layouts:

• Half-timbered style (rural), including a cottage in this design. This is a metal frame building with an attic floor. Area according to standard projects is about 75 – 100 sq. m. The size is small, but there is enough space for a family with two children. The footage is approximately the same as a 4-room apartment in standard panel high-rise buildings of the 80s and 90s. The structure is being erected without special equipment.
• One-story home with garage. Plaster is used for exterior finishing, but it is better to use decorative brick, siding, or ventilated facade. Roof – metal beams, metal tiles or any other material.
• Classic two-story building with a mansard roof and basement.

Crucial! Excellent project flexibility and numerous modifications are two benefits of using LSTK. Changes can be made "on the fly" to add a garage, add an extension, add a veranda, add a balcony, or alter the specifications of a room.

Building a house with half-timbered walls:

A one-story home with a garage project:

Typical two-story home with a metal framework:

The possibilities for project design are endless. Profiles can be cut to fit any type of architecture, from straightforward (garage boxes and hangars) to extremely intricate (multi-segmented, semicircular, and other shapes). The Baltprofil company is a well-known authority in the design and construction of metal objects, having established its own industry standards.

An illustration of prefabricated, compact housing on a metal profile is shown below:

Features of the construction process and technology

Putting together:

1. Setting up the basement (grillage, fence made of slabs, bricks, concrete filling the space between the pillars), ventilation holes must be provided.
2. Floors. Waterproofing from a layer of roofing felt or uniflex is installed along the grillage. Then – runs from LSTK, along them – logs. Lay insulation boards, vapor barrier, on top – a layer of OSB, on top of it – flooring.
3. Walls. The frame made of LSTK is fixed along the purlins. Further from the inside of the room: 2 sheets of gypsum plasterboard, vapor barrier, insulation (2 or 3 layers of mineral slabs staggered), hydro-wind protection, sheathing made of LSTK hat profile and siding;
4. Roof. The rafters are assembled, step 0.6…0.65 m, along them – lathing, for example, from a profiled galvanized sheet. The roof is also insulated and waterproofed.
5. Facade: lining, block house, siding, tiled materials, decorative brick, stone, plastering on sheets of expanded polystyrene glued to the outer wall.

Suggestions for sound insulation based on actual expert experience, as discussed in building forums:

• Pieces of rubber 3–4 cm thick, 200×200 mm in increments of 400 mm, were glued to the wall guides and ceilings, additionally secured in the center with a screw. If the assembly is done correctly, then everything is vibration free, and the insulation dampens the noise so much that the sounds of footsteps are not audible on the first floor.
• Acoustic gaskets between the main floor profile and the head profile (lathing for gypsum boards or other slab cladding).

Insulation and ventilation recommendations:

• Thermal break option – a 50×50 block is attached to the profile from the inside, and gypsum fiber board is fixed to it (one layer). Between the bars there is insulation 5 cm thick. The walls are warm, never freeze, and there are no cold bridges.
• Steam, wind, and waterproofing should be done as carefully as possible so that the frame is not blown through – this is very important. Closer attention should be paid to this around window and door openings.
• Reliable intensive ventilation in the under-roof space (under the metal tiles) is mandatory – its absence threatens the reverse flow of condensate.

Crucial! Reducing the likelihood of cold bridges is crucial when constructing a home using LSTC. If they are present, the insulation’s effectiveness is greatly reduced.

Better is a rivet connection since the pulsing wind loosens self-tapping screws. However, it is preferable to use them for this purpose if the object is intended to be disassembled and reassembled (typical for small sizes, utility rooms, and the like). The debate over which is better is, nevertheless, much more nuanced because there are better options for beams, profiles, and fasteners.

Additional advice

• To increase the load-bearing capacity for floors, "pairs" with foamed polyethylene gaskets are mounted through one beam, which are well bonded using 5.5 × 25 mm roofing screws with a washer.
• For attic roofing, the thermal profile is installed only along the edge of the wall. And for releases (fillies) wood is used.

Welding is an option for small structures, such as country houses. Smaller pipes work well for intermediate posts, while 80×80 mm pipes work well for corner posts in a one-story building. The insulation dictates the installation procedure: 58 to 59 cm of clearance is required (slightly narrower than the standard width of mineral wool).

Insulation

It is imperative to minimize cold bridges during low-temperature cooling (LSTC), which can only be accomplished by utilizing multiple layers of insulation to obstruct heat leakage. Usually, one layer is positioned in between the racks’ struts.

In the Moscow region, a frame’s sufficient cross-section for insulation is 200–250 mm (under mineral wool). However, this parameter isn’t used for lightweight steel frames, so transverse lathing is installed to fill in the gaps (on one or both sides).

As a result, the insulation is positioned horizontally along the sheathing and vertically between the racks. There will not be many cold bridges.

More about the insulation pie:

• The insulation must be protected from the penetration of moisture into it, so from the side of the room it is covered with a vapor barrier membrane. Typically, polyethylene 0.1 – 0.2 mm is used, it is placed as close as possible to the warm side of the wall, and if its outer segment is formed by two gypsum boards, then it is recommended to place the film between them. If there is only one layer of plasterboard, then such a vapor barrier is placed between the metal frame profiles and the GK sheet. The connection of two membranes should have an overlap of 20 cm; gluing the edges with tape is not recommended, since its resistance to aging cannot be predicted; the adhesive can destroy the material;
• From the street side, a windproof vapor-permeable waterproofing film is fixed on the insulation, which removes steam (it still penetrates in some quantity), eliminates blowing, serves as an obstacle to condensation and precipitation.

The only way to ensure the dryness of the insulation is to use the pie described above and to create a ventilation gap between the membrane’s outer layer and the finishing materials. The required channel needs to have holes drilled in it at both the top and bottom of the wall, as well as a leak-proof exit beneath the roof. The flow needs to be unhindered between the windproof material and the exterior finishing.

Advantages and disadvantages

Benefits of an LSTK frame include:

• A buried foundation of 1.5…2 m may not be required. A shallow foundation or bored piles will be suitable; they will have an up-to-date “warm floor” heating system.
• The frame itself for a building 150…200 sq. m can be assembled in 2 – 3 weeks by a team of 3 – 4 people.
• Resistant to vibrations and shocks. The frame has some shock absorption, which makes it earthquake-resistant.
• Durability (service life 100 years). Metal is undoubtedly more durable than wood. Even in marine climates, service life is not reduced, since the profile has an increased protective coating, protected by layers of insulation.
• Mold, mildew and pests are not scary.
• Versatility. It is much easier to create any projects and architecture: the profile is cut to fit any design.
• Easy to assemble, minimal labor costs, simple tools, no heavy equipment. In this parameter, LSTC has the palm. Houses are popular in the USA, where many users prefer practicality: cheap, prefabricated structures. They are assembled like a construction set, the profiles are lightweight – just align them according to the drawing and connect them with fasteners. A minimum of measurements and adjustment steps will be required, curvature is almost eliminated by the assembly principle itself. For the above reasons, the savings are significant, the construction comfort is significant. This fact is decisive if you need to quickly create housing in the shortest possible time in hard-to-reach areas or with limited opportunities.
• You don’t have to preserve a frame that is not fully assembled for the winter at any stage – just leave it as is until spring without any covering or processing.
• The walls are lightweight, but this does not reduce their outstanding efficiency. Designs with a ventilated façade, which is recommended for housing, have particular advantages. A 150 mm panel replaces 1 m of solid brick. A “thermos” is being created. Such a closed room retains heat for 2–3 days without heating.
• Multiple finishing options for facades and external cladding systems. Simplified, it looks like this (starting from the structure): sandwich of the outer wall – gap – outer screen. The insulation is ventilated, the air from inside the room is sanitized. The savings are that there is no need for expensive construction materials for finishing. Clapboard, decorative brickwork or vinyl siding with a combination of stone parts will be sufficient.
• Perfect wall accuracy.
• Open layout inside.
• Environmental friendliness of steel.

Drawbacks:

• The house forms an airtight capsule, so ventilation must be well thought out. The best solution to the problem is ventilated facades, roofs, adits, fireplaces, the use of breathable windows, climate control.
• The need to carefully lay thermal insulation, including to minimize cold bridges. The same applies to other protective materials.
• Difficult to find qualified frame assemblers.
• For built-in furniture, you need to provide space initially, since due to its heavy weight it must be mounted on a frame and not on the casing.
• Lack of domestic design standards.
• A psychological feeling of emptiness, of a cardboard house is created.

• “Cardboard house”, “you can break through a wall with your fist”. The claims are completely false. Profiles are often as wide as timber. The walls, of course, are less strong in withstanding a direct impact, but the LGST frame is a much more interconnected solid structure that takes full part in distributing the load, so ultimately the seismic resistance is higher than that of wooden frames.
• “It’s all chemicals, not environmentally friendly”. Films and insulation emit no more harmful substances (and even less) than plastic housings of household appliances in the house or vinyl/laminate flooring. Steel is completely environmentally friendly.
• Low heat retention, lack of sound insulation – as we have already said, this problem is completely eliminated by insulating materials.

It is thought that cold bridges, or LSTK frames’ poor thermal insulation efficiency, are their primary drawback. This is only applicable to uninsulated, basic corrugated pipe objects. Typically, thermal profiles with trustworthy insulation are used to make housing, which entirely resolves the issue.

The only negative aspect is that thermal efficiency is dependent on the quality of the vapor, water, and wind barriers in addition to the type of protective material and installation technique. That is, this portion of the work requires more effort.

Prices in the Russian Federation

Let’s talk about the cost of a full-service, thermoprofile housing project that includes premium insulation, from design to completion. Prices are determined solely by the policies of the company offering this service, as the content is largely uniform. If it is strip, the cost can be increased most noticeably by elite finishing and foundation.

Citation! A bare frame costs between $4 and $5 thousand for one square meter. Building completed housing from LSTK on a pile foundation typically costs 25,000 rubles per square meter. You will have to pay approximately 2,300,000 rubles, or 26, 000 rubles, for an 88 square meter house that includes the 45,000 ruble project. 136 RUR per square meter.

A portion of the budget for building 88 square meters of housing out of metal profiles is as follows:

Useful video

A lot of important and helpful information about an LSTK house can be found in this video:

Metal Frame Houses Construction Process	Features of Metal Frame Houses
1. Foundation preparation involves laying out the base and ensuring it"s level.	1. Lightweight structure allows for easier transportation and assembly.
2. Assembling the metal frame involves connecting prefabricated components.	2. Excellent durability and resistance to pests like termites.
3. Installing insulation and sheathing provides thermal and sound insulation.	3. Versatility in design allows for modern architectural styles.
4. Adding exterior finishes like siding enhances aesthetics and weather resistance.	4. Faster construction time compared to traditional methods.

Metal frame homes are a contemporary and effective replacement for conventional building techniques. A framework made of steel beams and columns is assembled during their construction process, after which it is insulated and finished with a variety of materials. This process enables speedy on-site assembly and gives designers flexibility.

Metal frame homes have a number of benefits, one of which is their resilience to different types of weather. Because steel resists rot and pests better than wood, it is the primary material that makes these houses suitable for a variety of climates. Furthermore, because steel frames are lightweight, there is less overall weight on the foundation, which could result in lower construction costs.

Additionally, metal frame homes have a reputation for being energy-efficient. High-quality insulation can be used inside the steel framework to improve thermal performance and lower heating and cooling energy costs. Because of this feature, they are appealing to homeowners who want to reduce their carbon footprint and are also environmentally friendly.

In conclusion, metal frame construction offers a reliable, cost-effective, and customizable housing option by fusing creativity and practicality. These homes are evolving along with technology, offering more choices for sustainable living and creative architecture in the field of contemporary building.

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