FEATURES
Timber has appealing features that further brings warmth to the building.
it is in roofs larger than 12m where a steel
frame is used.
Drilling it down
22
APRIL 2018
RESIDENTIAL // COMMERCIAL // INDUSTRIAL
Working with the material differs, as a
contractor Curry finds that timber is easy to
work with.
“No specialised tools are required to
erect a timber roof structure, except for a
hammer and a handsaw which is often easy
to handle with little formal training.”
Its aesthetic appeal when exposed
(overhangs) and possible lower cost are a
some of the benefits of a timber roof frame.
However, timber does have the aspect of
combustibility, its susceptible to rot and
fungal attack.
“Timber trusses are generally pre-
fabricated and thus cannot be modified
easily on site. They are generally heavy and
require a lot of manpower to erect safely,”
adds Curry.
Comparatively, steel isn’t flammable, it
spans over large areas and because of its
lightweight nature, is faster to erect.
“There are many examples to prove that
it is much faster and much lighter to erect.
MiTek Ultra-Span structures with large
spans and of over 1 000m 2 have been fully
erected in just half a day using cranes to
Steel is a versatile material that is an eco-friendly option for architects and engineers alike.
pick-up pre-assembled roof modules,”
shares Schlüter.
“Trusses can be modified easily on site
should the need arise. One can even build
the roof structure next to the building and
lift the roof with a crane onto the building
at once, this also minimises the risk of
working at heights,” says Curry.
See more on page 24