Do-it-yourself metal frame houses. Features of using a metal profile for frame construction: the whole point. What to look for when buying

14.05.2020

Houses on a metal profile frame are a new word in the development of frame construction technologies. We will figure out how to quickly and cost-effectively build such a house with your own hands.

The construction of a private house today has changed a lot due to the emergence of new technologies. The wooden frame allows you to build a structure very quickly and provide good performance. Using a metal profile frame for building houses with your own hands - further development frame technology. Let's figure out what are the advantages of this method and how to build such a house with your own hands.

Advantages and disadvantages

The technology of building buildings on a metal profile frame assumes that all frame elements of walls, ceilings, and roofs are made of metal. The thickness and shape of the profile for each section is calculated separately, based on the load being tested. This method of construction allows you to achieve the following results:

Reducing the weight of the finished building.
Speed of construction.
Reduction of tools necessary for construction: since the profile is manufactured in the factory, a drill, a plumb square, etc. become unnecessary.

The frame is filled with insulation panels, which are selected for the conditions of each region. Thus, it is possible to achieve the required indicators for protection against freezing. Frame houses are warm and economical: since there is no heat loss, it is possible to significantly save on heating.

Other advantages of houses built using this technology are:

Ease of disposal. Unnecessary structure does not need to be broken. You can disassemble the house, like a designer, letting the metal of the frame be melted down. The environment does not suffer either.
Durability: the metal does not burn, does not rot, practically does not deform from temperature changes.
Construction can be carried out at any time of the year, without interruption for the cold period.

Usually frame construction is used for the construction of small buildings with a height of one or two floors. The height of the walls of such an object is usually no more than 6 m, and the span is about 12 m. The limiter is the bearing capacity of the rafters. roof trusses 24 m long and more require the use of a special profile, they are difficult to manufacture and install.

There are several features that must be considered when choosing a frame house:

Good thermal protection translates into a need for a good ventilation system. The house, in fact, is a thermos, and without effective ventilation system it will be wet. And these are suitable conditions for the development of mold fungi.
The walls of the frame house will not be able to hold a lot of weight. It will not be possible to hang shelves on them or drive in a dowel for a picture.
Although the metal frame is made of corrosion-resistant alloys, care must be taken that it does not come into contact with moisture. Otherwise, corrosion processes can cause destruction of structural elements.

Given these features, living in frame house it is possible with great comfort, and it is not very difficult to build it with your own hands. But careful observance of technology and the purchase of quality materials for construction are required.

Assembly technology

The production of a frame house is carried out in several stages.

The design stage involves the preparation of documentation for the factory that will produce the profiles for assembling the frame. Even if you plan to build a house yourself, at this stage you need to resort to the help of a specialist. Incorrectly manufactured frame parts can make construction an impossible task. Therefore, it is worth choosing and implementing one of three options:

Choose a ready-made house project. Most cheap option. In the variety of options developed by designers, there is almost certainly a solution that combines an affordable price and a fairly high quality.
Having chosen a ready-made project, order its modification for your own needs. This may include changing interior layout, the addition of new elements (bay window, attic, etc.) or vice versa, the rejection of complicating details in order to reduce the cost of construction.
Order the development of the project from scratch. This is the most expensive and time consuming option. But on the other hand, it guarantees that the house will turn out to be unique in design and truly convenient for your family.

When the project is ready, the frame elements and insulation panels are made, and at this time work is underway to create a reliable foundation for the future home. Light weight allows the use of a pile foundation or technology based on the use of SHS supports. Both methods allow you to make the foundation quite quickly.

Next, the frame is assembled. In fact, this procedure resembles a game with a children's designer, only the details are very large. Since all elements are prefabricated, there is no need to waste time measuring and drilling holes. It is possible to assemble the frame completely in a few days.

At the next stage, the frame is sheathed with insulation panels. In general, this stage is similar to the work carried out during the construction of houses on a wooden frame.

When this stage is over, communications are brought into the house and the room and facade are being finished.

Necessary materials and tools

All types of metal profile (it is also abbreviated as LSTK) for house frames are made of structural steel using cold dies. Each sheet is coated with zinc to prevent corrosion. The coating thickness varies from 18 to 40 microns. The thicker the coating, the more expensive the profile, but also the higher its durability. The most expensive profiles are hot-dip galvanized.

The thickness of the sheet from which the profile is made is also different. The thinnest is 0.7 mm, the thickest is 2 mm. The thicker the steel, the higher the bearing capacity of the LSTK. However, as the thickness increases, the weight and cost also increase. Therefore, the thickness of the metal and the type of profile are calculated by specialists based on the loads that the frame will carry.

Today, LSTKs enter the market from dozens of sources: foreign and domestic, small factories and large steel mills. It is difficult to recommend a specific manufacturer here. It is worth looking at the quality of the metal (no traces of rust, coating chips, etc.)

There are several types of profiles:

They are also divided into subspecies depending on specific tasks:

It is impossible to determine which profile to put on each site without special knowledge. That is why it is better to entrust the drafting of a frame house to a specialist.

The set of tools may differ slightly, depending on which manufacturer the LSTCs are ordered from. But almost always a set of profiles comes based on a screwdriver assembly: everything is numbered, laid out in the appropriate order, equipped with the appropriate fasteners.

Do-it-yourself frame house from a metal profile. Step-by-step instruction

The process of building a frame building is almost the same, even though a metal frame is used, even a wooden one. Here are the basic steps for building a house on a finished foundation:

Based on going bottom trim. This is a very important stage, since it is here that the foundation for the future building is laid.
The main support posts are placed in the corners. It is very important to set them strictly vertically. When using a metal frame, such a sheerness is easier to achieve, but it still does not hurt to check the correct installation with a plumb line.
Additional racks are attached between the main support posts, they are connected into a single frame of the walls with the help of crossbars and jibs.
Racks are connected together by the upper strapping. The ceiling frame is mounted.
The roof frame is assembled.
The roof is waterproofed and insulated, a crate is assembled on the rafters for roofing material.

If you plan to build a multi-storey structure, two frame options can be used. In the first case, the support posts pass through the entire frame. Then the two floors of the house represent, as it were, a single whole. In this case, the strength of the structure is higher, but it is more difficult to build, since a longer and heavier profile will be needed. In the second case, the frame of the first and second floors are separate things, which are then connected to each other.

On this frame of the house is ready. In principle, assembling such a structure is no more difficult than assembling a constructor. It is only important not to mix up the details and carefully perform each operation.

Here are some tips from builders who are professionally involved in assembling frame houses:

In the work you will need an assistant, and preferably several. One can assemble only some small structure, like a garden gazebo, and even then the hands will be greatly missed.
Since metal conducts temperature much better than wood, a metal frame can create so-called. "bridges of cold". In order for a house on a frame made of LSTK not to lose heat, you should take care of high-quality insulation of external and internal walls the buildings. Modern insulation materials are well suited for this: polystyrene foam, mineral wool.

It is quite possible to build a building on a frame from a metal profile with your own hands. Modern technologies allow you to make such construction fast and not too laborious. But it is necessary that the frame is properly designed and made of high-quality metal. Then your house will be warm, durable and cozy.

metal frame houses low rise are popular all over the world. According to statistics, housing construction on a metal profile frame occupies 80% of all buildings. The main consumer regions of this technology are Scandinavia, USA, Canada.

Such houses have many advantages compared to capital buildings and houses built on a wooden frame.

Distinctive features of metal frame houses:

strength;
durability;
short terms of construction of buildings;
inertness to weather and climatic conditions;
low cost;
resistance to heat loss;
high fire safety;
seismic resistance;
environmental friendliness;
freedom in the choice of architectural solutions;
non-shrink technology.

The iron frame, its elements are light steel thin-walled structures, consists of galvanized profiles and thermal profiles, fastening tapes and plates for assembling the frame, different kind corners. They are not subject to decay, withstand temperature extremes, precipitation, and are resistant to the elements. A steel profile can serve as the basis of a structure without damage for more than 100 years.

It is possible to build a building on a LSTK frame within a month. The details of the base of the building are lightweight, which eliminates the use of hoists and cranes. The fastening of the frame parts is carried out using threaded connections. These include: self-drilling or tapping screws, bolted connections.

Features of houses on a metal frame

Frame housing construction is not tied to the climate in the region. The metal frame for the house can be assembled in any climatic zone, the main condition for weather conditions is comfort for the workers performing the installation.

The emergence and development of the technology for the construction of residential buildings on metal frames is caused by the need for the rapid construction of low-rise buildings from materials cheaper than wood and the ability to establish industrial production of frame parts.

The final cost of a frame house made of a metal profile and sandwich panels is much lower than the construction of bricks, gas blocks, wood and ceramic blocks.

High thermal insulation characteristics of structures are provided by high-quality insulation. Heating such buildings is much easier and more economical. Heat transfer resistance frame wall 25 cm thick is equal to masonry 1.5 m thick.

Sandwich panels used in frame construction use mineral wool insulation. Its temperature range is -60…+400ᵒС. Characteristics wall panels make the house resistant to acids and other aggressive environments, temperature extremes, fire. The material from which they are made does not accumulate moisture, is resistant to damage by rodents and microorganisms.

Mineral wool insulation is natural and environmentally friendly. Frame elements from LSTC can be reused. This property is highly valued by mining companies that build shift camps. So the ecology of the regions is less damaged.

Due to the light weight of the base and sandwich panels, the buildings do not shrink. In buildings built using this technology, it is possible to use different architectural possibilities, since spans without installing intermediate supports can reach 14-24 m.

Disadvantages of a metal profile frame

The base of metal parts has several disadvantages.

In case of fire, the base of galvanized iron loses its rigidity, the building turns into a spiral, it falls off, warps. This feature reduces occupant evacuation time. wooden beam, in contrast to iron, charred under the influence of fire, but keeps its shape.
The difficulty of installing built-in furniture and household appliances. To solve the problem at the design stage, houses are determined with their installation sites, which are reinforced with additional profiles and wood panels.
The limited number of storeys of the house and the impossibility of using heavy building materials.
High conductivity electric current metal frame. Protection against this problem is the potential balancing system.

Fabrication and installation of a frame from LSTC

The skeleton of the house is made of C- and U-profile. They are connected with self-tapping screws. Step between racks 600-1000 mm. It takes into account the dimensions of the insulation panels and allows you to conveniently mount other Decoration Materials.

If the house is being built according to an individual project, then after its development and coordination of all the nuances for the placement of furniture and household appliances in the premises of the future building, a 3D model of the house is made. This allows customers to see the final result in miniature. At the end of the design documentation process, the drawings are transferred to the plant that produces the metal frame parts.

On the production line Each item is made separately, numbered and packaged. Finished parts are equipped with holes for fastenings and for engineering communications. For mounting the skeleton of the house, connecting elements are included in the kit for the base parts.

Buildings on individual projects are much more expensive than houses made according to standard projects. To reduce the cost of housing construction, you can use a standard project with a frame made of a thermal profile or light steel thin-walled structures using Canadian technology. Its difference from other technologies for the rapid construction of buildings is the LSTK frame and special SIP panels with special thermal insulation characteristics.

In the case of housing construction standard project the customer receives a finished frame of a certain size and shape. Base parts are labeled and packaged according to house drawings.

As a heater, in addition to mineral wool, you can use:

basalt slabs;
expanded polystyrene;
ecowool.

For finishing the exterior walls of the house, brick, porcelain stoneware are used. Often, hinged ventilated facades are used as finishing of the facades of frame buildings. various types. Finishing materials such as siding and block house are becoming increasingly popular. Plastering and painting of facade walls have not lost their relevance.

Complete with frame parts and connecting elements, the customer receives a description of the project, recommendations and instructions for assembling the frame, and a specification of all elements.

Wooden construction has a lot of positive aspects - from the relatively low cost of the material to its naturalness and environmental friendliness. However, since there is currently no confidence in wooden construction not so much as to stone or cement, the technology of frame construction of houses continued to develop. The wooden frame was replaced by a metal profile frame.

Material Features

The profile has undeniable advantages over wooden materials.

Wooden houses are the most fire hazardous today, and it is precisely because of the use of wood. Galvanized metal helps make the home safer as it does not burn. This is one of the most important advantages of a galvanized profile.

The only disadvantage of a profile for a frame house is its price, but it still allows you to save money, since the house is cheaper than from blocks.

How is the installation

Construction begins with laying the foundation, which can be one of several types. You can read more about choosing a foundation in our article. When the foundation is ready, make the strapping. She's done traditional way, and you can also read about it.

Assembly is carried out using the simplest tools and can be done by hand with at least a little building experience.

The material itself is cold-formed from galvanized steel. Galvanized steel is not subject to corrosive processes, and can withstand heavy loads. It is suitable for the construction of even a 4-storey building.

If, during the assembly of the frame, it became necessary to cut or otherwise change the integrity of the material, the cut or bend points are additionally treated with a lubricant against corrosion.

Assembly and fastening method

Most often, either a separate profile, or elements already assembled in the factory, or ready-made full-fledged modules are brought to the place of construction of the future house. In order to connect all the elements into one structure, the method of threaded connections is used.

Such a mount can be done independently, since this does not require the presence of any skills or a special tool - an ordinary tool that is in the arsenal of any man will do.

Insulation of a house with an iron frame occurs in the same way as wooden frame buildings. You can use glass wool as you wish, mineral wool, polystyrene or liquid insulation. You can read about insulation technology.

In addition, in the formation of the wall, standard films and membranes are used to isolate from moisture, however, attaching them to the frame is more difficult than in wooden racks.

Cladding features

Often the question arises whether there are any features when facing a building from a metal frame. If you correctly calculate the load on the walls and foundation, there are no restrictions when choosing a finishing or facing material does not exist. How to make an inexpensive high-quality cladding - read.

The metal frame is stronger than the wooden frame, so even a natural stone, tile or facing brick, which they try to avoid with a wooden frame, so as not to burden the structure.

Interior decoration is also traditional method- with the help of drywall, which is fixed to OSB boards or others.

What to look for when buying

When purchasing parts for the steel frame of a building, the material must be carefully checked. Often scratches or other defects appear during loading or unloading.

Light steel thin-walled structures

If you find a defect in the form of an integrity violation, you have two ways to resolve the issue. You can either treat the damage sites with a septic tank from corrosion, or replace the seller with new material. If the damage is small, then during processing it will also serve well.
If you find stains, you should immediately replace the purchase. If the material has galvanizing errors, and in some places rust has begun to appear or the metal has turned brown, it is better to hand over this profile and contact another manufacturer.
If ready-made modules were brought to you, be sure to check the quality of the connection. All connections must be tightened sufficiently tight, and special fasteners must be provided at each connection point.

Thus, if you have purchased quality material, your building will have a service life of at least 50 years.

Erecting own house, every owner wants it to be reliable, comfortable and at the same time be inexpensive. Today, there are many ways to build residential buildings, and each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Metal frame houses are also offered on the market, and some choose this type of structure. But what advantages does it have, what should you think about before deciding on this acquisition, and how do the owners of such mansions respond?

What does the term "frame house" mean?

The frame structure has several layers, like a pie. Externally, the building may look different. It is sheathed with siding, clapboard or other materials that can withstand bad weather and temperature changes. But the main thing in such a structure is a house, which is made of durable insulation between the inner and outer skin, therefore, such buildings are used as shops, baths, summer cottages and, of course, for housing.

House project: price and design

Even before construction begins, it is important to decide on the project. There are two options here: you can order an individual drawing for your future home, or you can choose a ready-made one from the catalog. The second option will cost much less, because you do not have to pay for the work of engineers. In addition, the construction itself will begin faster, because you do not have to wait until the personal project of the house is made and adjusted. The price of the finished drawing depends on the size of the building and its complexity. So, for example, the project of a small cottage with two floors will cost about 1000 euros.

Construction assembly

You need to make a reservation right away that it is very difficult to build a house from a metal frame with your own hands. Without skills and experience, this is impossible. Since the whole structure is rather thin-walled, it requires secure fastening of all. The sheathing can also be securely fixed. Also, the profile is the basis of the walls in the building itself, and it is necessary for installing windows and doors. It can also be noted here that the cost of a metal frame, together with fasteners, is approximately 160 thousand rubles of the Russian Federation per set. After the installation of the frame, the facade is sheathed, for this a profiled sheet is used. To save comfortable temperature in the building, insulation is laid layer by layer on the walls and ceilings. In such a design, waterproofing elements are necessarily present. From above, this building is closed with external panels.

Advantages of metal frame structures

Of course, such houses have many advantages. These include:

fast frame, as well as completely the entire building. Only a couple of months pass from the moment of ordering to its commissioning;
the appearance of the building is decent and modern;
a house can be built by a team of four people, and this saves money on attracting labor;
it is very easy to perform thanks to the even and thoughtful frame of the entire building;
ease of construction means that it will not be necessary to prepare a powerful foundation, and shrinkage will be negligible;
in operation, this structure is economical, since it is easy to heat it;
metal frame houses are durable;
usually, environmentally friendly building and finishing materials are used in the work, so the building does not “emit” harmful chemicals;
such a building is able to withstand in seismically unstable zones. Due to the "elasticity" of the frame, the house can withstand shocks up to 9 points;
according to approximate estimates, the building can stand for more than a hundred years;
this method of construction allows you to embody various design ideas;
houses from a metal frame are easy to repair, and at the same time a lot of money will not be spent;
due to good sound insulation, extraneous noise from the yard does not penetrate into the house;
construction work can be carried out during the cold season.

Does this technology have disadvantages?

It is known that each building has its shortcomings. What can alert a person who is thinking about such a home? Insofar as we are talking about the entire system of such construction, you can pay attention to the material of the frame. It is made of galvanized steel, which itself has good thermal conductivity and a tendency to corrode, which is very dangerous for a thin structure. But manufacturers claim that they were able to compensate for these shortcomings with various compositions with which the metal was processed. It is also worth noting that metal frame houses must be built by professionals. If errors are made during assembly, the entire structure will soon collapse. Therefore, it is important to note that it will not be possible to save on the construction of a building by entrusting the work to amateurs.

The construction of a frame house has several advantages. You can build such a house quickly, economically and efficiently. Metal frames are lighter and stronger, have increased fire resistance. Insulated houses based on metal frames have high energy-saving properties. The installation of a metal frame has its own nuances that must be taken into account during construction.

Advantages of a metal frame house

Metal frames have some undeniable advantages over wooden ones. One of its main advantages is the relatively low price. Typically, the price of turnkey frames depends on the choice of material from which they are going to be made, on the fastening method used, and on the cost of installation work.

Metal carcass

Metal frames are made of steel, which is reflected in their second name. These products are also called LSTK, which stands for light steel thin-walled structures.

Another indisputable advantage of such a frame is its strength and lightness. These frames weigh less than others, but are much stronger. They are able to withstand tall and heavy buildings.

Metal frames are manufactured at the factory with a preliminary drafting of a project in which the dimensions of all elements are fixed. Hidden wiring can be placed in these elements. Since they are made of steel, they have increased stability to fire and are not subject to corrosion.

Main properties of light steel thin-walled structures

Features of assembling houses from a metal profile

The LSTC technology was developed in the last century. Metal frames are built from a profile with slots. This allows you to avoid the occurrence of cold bridges inside. The problems of thermal insulation and sound insulation can be solved with the help of modern heaters.

In structures with a metal frame, special attention is paid to the installation of a layer for steam, hydro and thermal insulation. This is due to the fact that in them the dew point is located inside the house. For this reason, it is also necessary to correctly make wind protection. Moreover, it is necessary to make sure that there is a ventilation system between the layer of external waterproofing and the insulation. It can be made by hand. This will facilitate the rapid removal of moisture. In houses of this type, it is necessary to organize competent electrical protection.

Previously, the use of metal as a frame was questionable. This was due to its increased thermal conductivity. This problem was solved by using galvanized metal profiles with perforation. The holes are filled with insulation, which reduces the level of thermal conductivity. This indicator is also influenced by the wall thickness. Therefore, the reviews of such houses relate to insulation issues.

One of the problems encountered in the construction of such houses is their increased electrical conductivity. However, it is solved by competent grounding.

How to choose a foundation for a metal frame house. Will it be different from a wooden frame?

For a metal frame house, a foundation on screw piles is suitable

Unlike the foundation for a house with wooden frame, when erecting LSTK, there is no need to build a massive base. Such a house is quite light and does not need a massive foundation. The developer will not have to deal with bulky earthworks, nor will he need to build formwork, two meters high, or install solid waterproofing. They can be built on any type of soil. The construction of a strip foundation is not required.

After analyzing the properties of the soil, you can choose the type of foundation for your light house. An excellent option can be columnar foundations, screw piles.

Metal frame mounting technology

When mounting the frame, it is necessary to create spatial blocks, flat frames and strengthen them as much as possible

In the process of mounting a metal frame, it is necessary to take into account the properties of the material. Care must be taken not to damage it during transport. During installation, you need to strive to create spatial blocks, flat frames and strengthen them as much as possible.

During the preparation of the foundation, transverse risks are applied to it, which must correspond to the axes of the future frame, the supporting surfaces and the location of the anchor bolts. With the help of anchors, it will be possible to correct installation inaccuracies.

Connections metal beams can be not only bolted, but also welded. The frame itself consists of a lower and upper harness. There is also a connection between them. It is necessary to design in advance door and window openings, metal crate.

The profile is cut to the desired size;
If necessary, bends at a pre-calculated angle;
The resulting parts are welded or bolted according to the scheme.

There are three options for enclosing structures:

Sheet assembly;
Cassette profile;
The use of sandwich panels manufactured at the factory.

The choice of materials for the installation of these enclosing structures is at the choice of customers. See photo views.

Exterior decoration of the house

It is one of the most important stages. The type of finish is determined by the customer and can be made using various materials:

If you want to do a budget option finishes, it makes sense to use vinyl siding, block house, mount a ventilated facade and other hinged structures;
If you make the finish with plaster, then the house will give the impression of a Mediterranean cottage;
Affordable prices and ease of installation attract those who use various panels that look like natural materials;
Finishing with tiles, natural and artificial stones looks very impressive. The house becomes like a solid and expensive one, but at the same time retains all the advantages of a metal frame structure.

Video

Watch the video tutorial on the construction of metal frame houses.