Lately, I hadn’t had much of a chance to keep an eye on the build simply because I’ve been too busy.
I got a chance to visit the site after work on Friday and was surprised to see that the house frame that had been erected to date was entirely made of steel.
Just like the X-Man Wolverine, my house will have a metallic skeleton. If only it could self heal and have metals claws to fight off bad guys.
When we signed the initial tender contract in late 2018, the frame was going to be termite treated timber.
As we got very close to commencing construction, Eden Brae asked us to sign a no-cost variation for a hybrid frame (steel and timber).
I once walked past an Eden Brae construction in a neighbouring suburb and took a picture of it, not really noticing the framing that was partially exposed as the brick work wasn’t yet complete. I revisited this picture in light of our own build and noticed that it appears that Eden Brae use metal for the framing and timber for the roof trusses. Hence the “hybrid”…
I don’t really understand the motivations behind switching to hybrid framing, but the cynic in me thinks it’s because it’s faster and therefore cheaper for the builder.
A quick Google search will tell you the pros of a steel frame from the unbiased viewpoint of a steel frame installer or a timber frame installer.
For example, did you know that steel is more environmentally friendly than timber? Because it’s recyclable while timber involved cutting down forests. Wow, thanks for clearing that one up. Never mind that timber is renewable while steel inputs are not. Greta Thunberg would surely agree with the steel framing industry, so I’m sold.
One thing is definitely true and that is that steel is 100% termite proof. Definitely a desirable feature in this country.
I’m unsure why Eden Brae haven’t gone the whole hog and made the entire frame and truss system steel. I can only speculate that it’s either too expensive to do this or there is no added benefit of steel trusses.
Meanwhile, the on-site camera system is now up and running and here’s a picture hot off the press. I’m unsure why the picture is a little foggy – maybe the camera was installed on a rainy day. But I’m looking forward to being able to monitor the build without having to drive by like a stalker.
Eden Brae Waldorf 50 
Hi
I have the same concern.
We also built with EB lately and have signed the contract late 2018.
Yet I didn’t agree on the hybrid frame and therefore I signed a PCV for it to be treated timber. We couldn’t visit the site during construction that much and we had the camera on. Only after settlement I found that my house has the hybrid unlike what we agreed on
I am so disappointed, in terms of acoustics it’s doing terrible
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Hi Mary,
I’m sorry to hear that the acoustics are terrible. Can you share details on why it is terrible and how you think the hybrid frame contributes? I am obviously also concerned given that the hybrid frame was changed on us at the last minute.
Did you get any internal wall acoustic insulation?
Also, how can Eden Brae simply change to a hybrid frame without your consent? Is there any scope for redress?
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Hi, did you physically check that these greens ones are steel and not treated timber? It is hard to see from the photo.
Just asking because normally the steel frames I see are coloured blue.
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I didn’t inspect it at the time of construction, but having drilled into the studs since moving in, I can confirm they are most definitely metal and not treated timber. Be sure to get yourself a decent stud finder, by the way. My basic stud finder has failed me on numerous occasions.
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