The Block 2020

THE BLOCK
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The Block 2020 takes place in the suburb of Brighton, Victoria. This year’s build showcases the transformation of five iconic homes, from different eras, dating from the 1910s to the 1950s. Each of the older iconic homes will be complemented with an architecturally designed extension, studio and garage.

BlueScope is a proud sponsor of The Block, and it’s great to see TRUECORE® steel and COLORBOND® steel appearing in the show, from start to finish!

Thank you to our valued partners

Our Partners

Thank you to our valued partners of The Block 2020
OUR PARTNERS
our partners

The participation of COLORBOND® steel and TRUECORE® steel in The Block has been made possible by the support of our amazing customers and partners: Dynamic Steel Frame, Stramit, Architectural Cladding Suppliers, Reece Plumbing, LCS Plumbing & Civil Drainage, Nine in Six Builders, Centurion Garage Doors and Quicklift Garage Doors.

 

HOUSE FRAMES MADE FROM TRUECORE® STEEL
Supplied and Installed by:

Dynamic Steel Frame

Dynamic Steel Frame is a vibrant, customer focused, award winning light gauge steel frame manufacturer based in Melbourne. They manufacture for all segments of the building industry including commercial, light industrial, investment housing, high end bespoke homes, apartment multi-residential, owner builder, cladding and façade builders and even Tiny Houses.

To find out more, please check out their website.


Spantec Systems

Spantec Systems is a leading innovator of light structural steel beams and specialists in steel flooring systems. Spantec design flooring/roofing systems, including the manufacturing of the components for the systems and developing the software to make building easy. Boxspan® beams were supplied for The Block 2020 and were delivered as a designed kit system which meant no cutting required on site, and a strong foundation for this year extensions.

To find out more please check out their website.


Nine in Six Builders

Nine in Six Builders is a family owned business completing bespoke residential homes and commercial projects across Victoria.

To find out more, please check out their website.

 

ROOFING & CLADDING MADE FROM COLORBOND® STEEL
Supplied and Installed by:

LCS Plumbing & Civil Drainage

L Clarke and Sons is a family business in Mornington, Victoria with generations of experience in its tradesmen, which prides itself in giving every project the same dedication and aptitude – regardless of size or cost.

To find out more, please check out their website.


Reece Plumbing

The Reece business began over 100 years ago, in 1919, when Harold Joseph Reece commenced selling hardware products from the back of a truck. Now the company is Australia's largest plumbing and bathroom supplies business, operating both locally and Internationally.

To find out more, please check out their website.


Stramit

The roots of Stramit date back to a number of family-owned roofing, rainwater and roll forming businesses in the 1890s. Today, it is one of the largest steel roll formers in Australia, with a strong commitment to safety and quality. Whether you're a builder, engineer, architect, specifier, distributor, re-seller, installer or steel fabricator, they've got you covered.

To find out more, please check out their website.


Architectural Cladding Suppliers

For the past decade, Architectural Cladding Suppliers has been fabricating architectural roofing and wall panel products, whilst supporting builders, developers and architects with a quality range and a dedication to unparalleled service. Alongside their cladding profiles, their sister company PPC Flashings delivers an extensive range of complementary metal rainwater goods, accessories and flashings, creating a complete start to end project solution. ACS and PPC Flashings are both very proud to have been a part of supplying their products this year for The Block 2020.

To find out more, please check out their website.

 

GARAGE DOORS MADE FROM COLORBOND® steel
Supplied and Installed by:

Centurion

Centurion Garage Doors has been supplying and manufacturing garage doors since 1976. The company is at the forefront of garage door innovation, providing high-quality garage doors, automation and accessories to the Australian market.

To find out more, please check out their website.


Quicklift Garage Doors

Quicklift Garage Doors opened in 1958 and works throughout Metropolitan Melbourne and Regional Victoria to bring their customers quality products and a reliable service. They offer an extensive collection of products, including garage doors, gates and entrance doors in a range of colours and styles, as well as repairs, maintenance and a 24/7 Emergency Team. Quicklift Garage Doors provided the garage doors, gates and automation for The Block 2020.

To find out more, please check out their website.

 

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The Inner Strength

TRUECORE® steel on The Block 2020

The Block 2020 selected house frames made from TRUECORE® steel
TRUECORE® steel
The Block 2020 selected house frames made from TRUECORE® steel

The Block 2020 includes extensive use of framing made from BlueScope's TRUECORE® steel and like the last four series of The Block, shows how it’s a product the show relies on for speed of installation and design flexibility.

House frames made with the inner strength of TRUECORE® steel are a great choice for modern Australian homes. Their impressive strength-to-weight ratio allows for wide spans and contemporary open plan designs. They are straight and true, and won’t shrink, twist or warp over time so there’s less chance of sticking windows, jammed doors and wavy rooflines. TRUECORE® steel is 100% termite and borer proof, and won’t contribute to the spread of fire, giving you added piece of mind.

If you’d like to find out more about TRUECORE® steel, please call our support team on 1800 738 576.

 

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Hall of Frame
Video
For Homeowners

Advantages of TRUECORE® steel

For Homeowners
ADVANTAGES OF TRUECORE® steel
advantages of TRUECORE® steel

The key to a beautifully finished home is the way it starts. Hear Tom Williams explaining how to get your home build off to the right start by choosing a frame with the inner strength of TRUECORE® steel.

  • Inner strength and durability
  • Design versatility
  • Straight and true
  • Won’t twist or warp over time
  • 100% Insecticide free
  • 100% Termite and borer proof
  • Won’t catch fire
  • Design Versatility
  • Up to 50-year warranty for eligible applicants*
  • Backed by BlueScope

Find out more about the advantages of TRUECORE® steel for your home

 

*Warranty currently offered for residential applications only and is subject to application and eligibility criteria. Commercial warranties may be available on application. For full terms and conditions and to determine the eligibility of your building for a warranty visit warranties.bluescopesteel.com.au or call BlueScope on 1800 800 789. Warranties provided by BlueScope do not affect consumer rights under the Australian Consumer Law.

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THE BLOCK
Home
DO YOU HAVE A TRUECORE® STEEL STORY TO SHARE?

If you have a story you’d like us to share here or in social media, we’d love to hear from you.

Our email address is team@truecore.com.au.

 

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Video
Behind the scenes with the builders

Behind the scenes with the builders

Frames made from TRUECORE® steel help to deliver these challenging designs.
THE BLOCK 2020
Behind the scenes with the builders

This year’s The Block is a season unlike no other. Not only is there the COVID-19 crisis to contend with, but this year each team is essentially completing three (3) structures: the original house that has been relocated from elsewhere in Melbourne, a new two-storey extension that adjoins to the rear of this house, and a separate double-storey studio/garage space at back of the property.

We are thrilled that once again frames made from TRUECORE® steel were selected to help build the rear extension and studio/garages. Dynamic Steel Frame (DSF) was again selected as the appointed fabricator – to design, fabricate and deliver all of the frames made from TRUECORE® steel from their Dandenong factory.

As viewers will see, the build this year is challenging. Not only are there the famously tight timelines, but the design of each individual house is completely different and several of the homes include some interesting architectural details. “There were some challenges this year with five extremely complex houses” said Peter Blythe, Managing Director of DSF. Thorough planning was key to ensuring that the build would go as seamlessly as possible for the contestants and their trades. The DSF team were forward thinking in how they approached the design and used 3D modelling to assist the fixers throughout the build. Says Mr Blythe, “A lot of work went into the modelling to make sure it was faithful to the architectural intent. We did all of the design upfront in CAD or 3D and we integrated the structural steel, the lightweight steel and all of the architectural requirements. So, when we manufactured and rolled the frames, they were perfect for purpose.”

DFS’s 3D models of the five houses

DFS’s 3D models of the five houses 

Melbourne building company, and The Block veterans, Nine in Six Builders again managed all of the external construction of each of the houses. This year was Nine in Six Builders, Aidan O’Shannessy’s 10th year as Site Manager on The Block, and he was pleased to again work with frames made from TRUECORE® steel. “The design and prefab process worked a lot more seamlessly this year and was better orchestrated” he said. “We were able to stand up the extension framework in a really good time.”

 

Crews carrying wall framing made from TRUECORE® steel

Crews carrying wall framing made from TRUECORE® steel

Corey Olszak and his team at Baile Built were engaged by House #2 as their team builder. Mr Olszak who had been involved in the 2015 season of The Block, had never worked with framing made from TRUECORE® steel before but was really pleased with how quickly and easily the frames went up: “In the new extension and upstairs in the studios it was really big and open. To do these walls out of certain other materials would have been quite difficult in terms of time and materials. DSF was able to punch our measurements into a computer and in some instances three hours later the frames arrived, we put them together and they went straight up. All done. It was great.”

 

Straight and true, framing made from TRUECORE® steel.

Straight and true, framing made from TRUECORE® steel. 

House #3’s builder, Anthony Gronow of Build Gronow also commented on the speed of the build thanks to using framing made from TRUECORE® steel. “In the morning we had a ten-minute conversation with Peter at DSF to design the wall frame layouts and dimensions. We could then get on with other tasks before the frames were delivered millimeter perfect by 3pm that same day, and we had them installed by tools down at 5pm. It was brilliant!”

 

Peter Blythe from DSF working on the measurements

Peter Blythe from DSF working on the measurements

Mr Gronow had also worked with Ronnie and Georgia on the 2017 season of The Block where he used framing made from TRUECORE® steel for the first time. “One of the greatest advantages of prefabricated frames made from TRUECORE® steel is that they arrive square, straight and flat every time”, he said. “Even in the stair voids with wall heights pushing six-metres tall. As soon as the walls are stood plumb and screwed together, they are ready to receive gyprock. No straightening required.”

House #4’s builder, Ian McClymont of IJM Constructions agrees with this. “You don’t have to plane the walls and straighten anything – it was all straight already. That was a big time saving.”

 

Prefabricated and dimensionally accurate

Prefabricated and dimensionally accurate

As viewers will have seen, many interesting architectural features have been revealed such as the curved wall in House #4’s kitchen. Of this project said Mr McClymont, “We built one of the curved walls in the kitchen using frames made from TRUECORE® steel. We worked with Peter (from DSF) on it and used a track system which made a perfect curve. It worked out really well. And it looks good.”

 

Before: House #4’s builder completes the finishing touches to the curved wall frame
Before: House #4’s builder completes the finishing touches to the curved wall frame
Before: House #4’s builder completes the finishing touches to the curved wall frame
After: House 4’s stunning curved wall

House #3 also embraced the curve trend and included a twice-curved wall in their Living and Dining room. Mr Blythe (DSF) remembered these projects fondly and was pleased with the design flexibility of TRUECORE® steel to achieve this feature. “We were able to create the curved walls just by thinking out of the box. There are two pretty serious curves - one curve went in both directions on a wall. It was great to show contestants what steel can do”.

 

The curved wall in both directions in House #3
The curved wall in both directions in House #3
The curved wall in both directions in House #3
The curved wall in both directions in House #3

But these curved walls were not the biggest challenge that the DSF team had to overcome said Mr Blythe: “The roof on House #1 and House #5 with all of the angles was the most complicated thing to get right. We spent a lot of time getting those roofs to work to code and to structural requirements. They are wildly unconventional!”

 

Architect, Julian Brenchley’s design included some challenging and unconventional rooflines.

Architect, Julian Brenchley’s design included some challenging and unconventional rooflines. 

Another benefit to using framing made from TRUECORE® steel was the positive experience had by trades. House #5 builder, Jaye Ibrahim from Jetcon Building and Construction, said “The electricians were happy with the frames. All of their holes were pre-punched, so they just put their noggins in and away they went.”

The Block architect, Julian Brenchley knew that he had included some challenging pieces into the design and was really pleased to be using framing made from TRUECORE® steel to bring his vision to life. “The design flexibility of the materials and the structure made our job much easier. We get straight walls and it’s a really good system – in how it comes together offsite, before arriving onsite. Plus, the steel in TRUECORE® steel is 100% recyclable, making these frames a great choice to help conserve resources, which is a big tick from me. It’s just been a really, really good experience.”

 

Rear view of one of the houses extensions

Rear view of one of the houses extensions

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The Block contestants discover a new way to build

Building with framing made from TRUECORE® steel

The Block contestants discuss the benefits of working with TRUECORE® steel
TEAM STORIES
Building with framing made from TRUECORE® steel

The Block is never easy, and this year is no exception. Each of the teams this season are dealing with multiple buildings and a huge amount of space in each one. All to complete within the 12-week construction timeline!

Each team spent the first few weeks of the build renovating the original homesteads. While they were focussing their time here, the site builder, Nine In Six Builders, was busy erecting the exterior frames for the rear extensions and studio/garage spaces – which are built using framing made from TRUECORE® steel. Once the original homes had been renovated, each team moved onto the rear extension followed by the studio/garages, where it was up to The Block’s builder, the contestants and their builders to design the floorplan and order and install the internal walls made from TRUECORE® steel.

Peter Blythe from DSF working with the teams on their weekly measurements

Peter Blythe from DSF working with the teams on their weekly measurements

Peter Blythe, Managing Director at Dynamic Steel Frame, a fabricator of frames made from BlueScope's TRUECORE® steel, spent each Monday morning working closely with the teams to measure and draw up their vision for that week’s room. The frames were usually delivered to site that same afternoon or the next day and would often be installed by tools down the same day they were delivered. With the famously tight timelines on The Block, this speed of prefabrication and installation was very appreciated by all of the contestants.

 

Frame modelling by DSF

Frame modelling by DSF

Luke from House #4 had some limited exposure to framing made from TRUECORE® steel prior to coming onto The Block but was still amazed at how quickly everything happened. “At times, I was handing sketches and drawings to Dynamic [Steel Frame] at seven o’clock in the morning and having the frames delivered by 1:30-2pm the same day. It was just unbelievable” Luke said.

Jimmy and Tam from House #5 agreed and said that the installation of the frames was so much quicker than they thought possible. “Once our team of builders knew the system, it flowed so quickly, and within an hour they could have the dividing walls of upstairs up and ready for roughing in. It was really quick”.

 

Framing in House #1 made from TRUECORE® steel
Framing in House #5 made from TRUECORE® steel
Framing in House #1 made from TRUECORE® steel
Framing in House #5 made from TRUECORE® steel

Sarah and George (House #2) were also thrilled with how swiftly their follow-on trades could rough in once the frames were installed. George, an electrician by trade had some experience using framing made from TRUECORE® steel and knew that the pre-punched holes would help to save their trades time. “It was very easy to work with” said George. “Even for the big cathedral ceilings that we have upstairs. The way it all came prefabricated with instructions was really helpful. The boys just smashed it.”

 

The stunning cathedral ceiling

The stunning cathedral ceiling

Another key benefit to using frames made from TRUECORE® steel was how they were straight and true – regardless of how tall the walls were. Daniel and Jade’s House #3 included walls in the extension that were 6 metres high. Said Daniel, “It doesn’t matter if it’s 3m, 4m or more. That wall is absolutely straight which is really helpful.” Jimmy and Tam (House #5) agreed. “It just all went together and stood up perfectly, and absolutely straight as an arrow” said Jimmy.

The extension in House #1 featured some very unconventional angles in the roofing and Harry and Tash were thrilled with how well the framing made from TRUECORE® steel was able to accommodate these complex lines. “The architect [Julian Brenchley] certainly had fun with our home!” laughed Tash.

 

The unconventional rooflines on House #1
The unconventional rooflines on House #1
The unconventional rooflines on House #1
The unconventional rooflines on House #1

Also unconventional were the curved walls that Luke and Jasmine (House #4) incorporated into their build. Their kitchen design in the new extension includes a show-stopping curved wall that they had been planning since they found out that they were coming onto The Block. “The vision was that you would come out from the existing house into the new build, and straight onto this 3.3 metre floor-to-ceiling curved feature wall, that then married up with our curved island bench” said Luke. They worked closely with Peter Blythe to plan out how this could be built using framing made from TRUECORE® steel. By incorporating a skeleton track, the wall was built using posts made from TRUECORE® steel. “It worked really well” remembers Jasmin, “Having the steel frame, the skeleton track. Everything came off without a hitch.”

Before: House #4’s builder completes the finishing touches to the curved wall frame’
Before: House #4’s builder completes the finishing touches to the curved wall frame’
Before: House #4’s builder completes the finishing touches to the curved wall frame’
Before: House #4’s builder completes the finishing touches to the curved wall frame’
After: House #4’s stunning curved wall

Almost all of the teams made some sort of change to the architect’s original plans and were pleased with how well the framing made from TRUECORE® steel was able to accommodate these alterations. “That was one thing that surprised me a lot” said Daniel (House #3). “It was so easy to modify the frames.” Even the additional window that they added to one of the upstairs bedrooms went off without a hitch. “Once we realised what we wanted, we went straight to Peter at DSF, and all we had to do was adjust some of the braces and put them in another section of the wall and it was all good. It was really easy”, said Daniel.

 

Framing made from TRUECORE® steel

Framing made from TRUECORE® steel

Luke and Jasmin (House #4) also made changes to the original plans when they reworked the entire layout of the 2nd story in the extension to cater their floor plan more firmly towards a large family home. The new plans included a big family bathroom upstairs, which involved a lot of changes to the original framing design. “We had to move structural beams, and Peter Blythe just made it all happen. We put in new structural beams and removed all the old framing and it was really easy” said Luke.

Dynamic Steel Frame was pleased to once again be along for The Block ride and enjoyed working closely with all of the teams. “The atmosphere is challenging but it’s also very rewarding. Especially when you’re on the ground working directly with the contestants to make their dreams a reality” said Peter.

 

 

The content of this case study is based on statements made by the sources listed above and is a reflection of their views and experience on this project. Same/similar results are not guaranteed for each user and outcomes may vary across projects. TRUECORE®, BlueScope and the BlueScope brand mark are registered trade marks of BlueScope Steel Limited. © 2020 BlueScope Steel Limited ABN 16 000 011 058. All rights reserved.

 

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Hamptons Farmhouse

Indah Island Case Study

Hamptons Farmhouse
INDAH ISLAND CASE STUDY
indah island

This stunning Hamptons style farmstead was built using framing made from TRUECORE® steel. The home was created around a renovation of the original 1860’s family owned property, adding two new wings stretching out on either side of the original building. The team behind the build comprised of Interior Designer and media personality Natalee Bowen, and her husband Mark Bowen, who oversaw the construction of the build and managed all trades.

To read the full case study please visit Indah Island Case Study page.

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TRUECORE®, COLORBOND®, BlueScope, the BlueScope brand mark are registered trademarks of BlueScope Steel Limited. © 2022 BlueScope Steel Limited ABN 16 000 011 058 All rights reserved.

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