Innovation Steel Frame & Truss and Yack Constructions

The owners chose lightweight steel framing for this stunning residential home build

Use of the ENDUROFRAME® system added many benefits to both the fabrication and installation of the frames for this project

Positive feedback from follow-on trades
Pre-fabricated for on-site efficiencies
100% termite and borer proof

A stunning residential home located near the small tourist town of Yackandandah in northeast Victoria, has been built using a mix of framing made from TRUECORE® steel, concrete and structural steel.

Project details:

The home is located on a lush 300-acre cattle fattening property and will comprise three ‘pods’ – the east pod contains the master bedroom, the central pod includes the kitchen, dining and lounge, and the west pod contains the guest rooms, media room, gym, office and laundry. By moving the six-car garage underneath the house and using internal glass slider doors, all pods will have 360-degree views – a requirement that was very important to the owners to take full advantage of the gorgeous surroundings. 

Having had issues with termites in the past, the homeowners first used lightweight steel framing when renovating the 1950’s farmhouse that is located elsewhere on this property four years earlier.

“It was an easy decision for us to use steel again. We just think that building with a steel frame makes sense,” said the homeowners. 

Local builder, Yack Constructions completed the farmhouse renovation for the family, and the homeowners were so impressed with owner Justin Maybury and his team, that they didn’t hesitate to ask them back. Yack Constructions have completed many projects using lightweight steel framing. “It’s definitely something that is getting more and more popular – especially amongst more rural properties where termites are an issue,” said Mr Maybury. 

Project Information
Project

Yackandandah House

Location

Yackandandah, VIC

Builder
Steel Frame Fabricator
Principal Steel Products
  • Framing made from TRUECORE® steel
  • Roofing and cladding: COLORBOND® steel Monument® in a classic finish 
  • Garage doors: B&D panel lift made from COLORBOND® steel Monument® in a classic finish

Wodonga-based Innovation Steel Frame and Truss were engaged for the framing and used the ENDUROFRAME® system for the design and fabrication of the framing made from TRUECORE® steel. Use of this system added many benefits to both the fabrication and installation of the frames for this project due to the extra features the system offers such as Lipped C studs and unlipped U plates. These allow for easy frame modification – something that came in very handy when manipulations were made to Yackandandah House onsite. Further efficiencies in the assembly of the frames were also gained by the ENDUROFRAME® building system allowing the trusses to screw from one side only.

“I know a lot of other systems where for the roof trusses you have to bolt the frames and they have to screw from both sides. But with the ENDUROFRAME® system, the roof trusses only require screwing from one side. This feature really helps to save us time.”

Steve Deery, Manager at Innovation Steel Frame and Truss

Another time-saving feature of the ENDUROFRAME® system is the inkjet marking on each piece of the frame which allows for easy identification of components. This removes the need to manually write the identifiable codes on each individual piece of the frames and makes flat packing the frames for the site much easier. Mr Deery also noted the pre-installed one-way lifting hooks that are a standard feature of the ENDUROFRAME® system add further logistical benefits to all projects, including Yackandandah House. “Rather than having to remove reusable lifting lugs onsite and organise for them to be brought back and retested, ENDUROFRAME® designed their own single-use lug that just gets rolled out of the machine and is very cost-effective and safe,” he said. 

Due to the custom nature of the house design, Innovation made several trips to the site to conduct measurements for the build – an extra effort that was praised by Yack Constructions. “It all fitted really well when we installed the frames. Everyone was very happy” said Mr Maybury. 

Construction on the house is now complete and the exterior features COLORBOND® steel Monument in a classic finish for the roofing, cladding and garage doors. Laughed the homeowners, “We love steel, glass, brick and stone as you can see by the design!”

Sources
  • Steve Deery, Manager at Innovation Steel Frame and Truss
  • Justin Maybury, Owner Yack Constructions

The content of this article is based on statements made by the sources listed above and is a reflection of their views and experience. Same/similar results are not guaranteed for each user and outcomes may vary across projects.