Light Gauge vs Wood vs Concrete? Let’s examine the pros and cons:
1. Strength, Durability and Preference:
- LGS: Reasonable strength (for residential loads), resistant to: termites, and rot (but is susceptible to rust – in the long term). Neither wood nor steel does well when exposed to water. Light gauge can be “squeaky”
- Wood: Susceptible to decay, rot and termites. Is very stable.
- Concrete: Very strong. Not commonly used for residential single storey houses.
2. Speed and Cost:
- LGS: Prefabricated off-site, allowing quick assembly on-site. This reduces labour costs and project timelines significantly. LGS is great if your building site is remote, and it is difficult to procure tradespersons: most of the work can be fabricated in a workshop in a metro area – and then transported to the remote location, where it can be assembled with comparatively minimal labour.
- Wood: Often cheaper initially, but long-term costs can rise due to maintenance requirements. The tendency is to cut on site.
- Concrete: Often more expensive due to labour, planning, reinforcement and trucking. Is suitable for high rise structures.
Conclusion
LGS does well in terms of speed of construction. Traditional carpenters who cut and erect on site – may take many months. LGS beats the pants of this mode of construction. Entire houses can be framed in a few weeks. Note: it is also possible to prefabricate wooden frames and erect on site.
Weigh up the costs and benefits accordingly.
At Tek 1, we provide Light Gauge Steel detailing services.
Tag: LGS
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Light Gauge Steel vs. Traditional Materials: A Quick Comparison
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Lot 202, Mount Keira Road, Mount Keira
About:
- A Two-story dwelling.
- Roof truss: 9m-long sloped ceiling.
Problems Solved:
- Utilized a panel roofing system for the overhang to match the truss roofing system.
- Conducted precise truss engineering analysis using the Scottsdale 700mm machine series.
- Included point load calculations to determine upward and downward load transfers from the roof to the floor.
- Incorporated a set-down in the floor joist to accommodate the bathtub and calculated its load-bearing capacity.
- Proposed the reduction of structural steel, which was approved by the engineer.
- Designed wall cutouts and tolerances for accessing the steel column base plate within the slab.
Project Highlights
Designed wall cutouts and tolerances for accessing the steel column base plate within the slab
Incorporated a set-down in the floor joist to accommodate the bathtub and calculated its load-bearing capacity
Produced precise slab drawings with details based on the LGS model
project gallery
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Lot 57, Sturdee Street, NSW
About:
- two-story residential building in Sturdee Street, Towradgi NSW
- We cut eliminated steel beams and replaced them with LGS joists and columns in order to cut costs. We proposed a design which our approved.
- To facilitate proper load transfer from top to bottom, we organized the floor trusses and roof trusses with a uniform spacing, which also aided in minimizing the use of steel.
- This project encompasses 9595 meter of light gauge steel roll former, comprising 11.5 tons of steel.
Project highlights
We proposed a design change to replace a concrete column for an external planter box with a double-wall LGS column.
Subsequently, the client approved the proposed change and also opted to replace the concrete planter box with an LGS planter box.
We provided an exclusive floor joist layout and detailed views for critical areas.
To avoid error during installation.
project gallery
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AMENITIES BLOCK – CASINO SHOWGROUND, NSW
Project Name: Amenities Block -Casino showground, NSW
Done By: LGS Team
Team Manager: Venkatesh Balasubramanian
Detailed By: Siddharthan Velmurugan
Experience our LGS Model in A360 : https://autode.sk/44TZh84
This is the single-story Amenities block.
Our scope of work includes LGS Frames & Structural Steel connection.
We found the modelling process for the LGS frame to be straight forward and the consultant’s drawings are clear and easy to understand for our work.
We Provided wall, roof and truss Frames with proper labels for identification and easy transportation.
STRUCTURAL STEEL MODEL:
However, for the structural steel, we have not received any reference drawings from our client.
Then, we proposed a standard steel connections drawings suitable for this model and to obtain approval from our client.
Finally, our client is also satisfied with the proposed model we sent and has confirmed the steel connection for fabrication after requesting a change in the size of the PFC and bolts.
List of Deliverables:
- LGS model
- LGS model layout PDF
- Individual wall frame dimension drawings
- A360 link will be provided to experience the 3D version of the model
- Project engineering environment
- Roof truss engineering analysis
- Steel report for each level
Structural Steel:
- PDF (GA & Part Drawings)
- Bill of Material
- NC & DXF File
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LOT49 SALTAIR CIRCUIT, LENNOX HEAD
Project Name: Lot 49,Salt Air Circuit, Lennox Head
Done By: LGS Team
Team Manager: Venkatesh Balasubramanian
Detailed By: Siddharthan Velmurugan
Experience our LGS Model in A360 : https://autode.sk/3PgmgnM
This model is a Two-Story Building with a Hip roof system.
Our Main scope of work is to reduce the Structural steel and replace it with LGS steel Frames.
Creating Floor & Roof truss with point loads to establish the load path through proper engineering analysis.
Designed wall & Truss frames for ease of transportation.
We provide the model with Zero collision errors & each frames analyzed using Scot-Sim.
LOWER LEVEL:
UPPER LEVEL:
CONNECTION BETWEEN FLOOR JOIST & STEEL BEAM:
We modified the LGS frames to connect with steel beams as per our client requirements.
Some complexities that arose during the modelling process and engineering the joist. Ultimately, our client is highly satisfied with the results.
List of Deliverables:
- LGS model sdp file
- LGS model layout PDF
- Wall frame dimension drawings for each Level
- A360 link will be provided to experience the 3D version of the model
- Project engineering environment File
- Floor & Roof Truss engineering analysis
- Steel report for each level
- All documents will be issued only after client approval.
