Light Gauge Steel (LGS), also known as cold-formed steel, is produced from high-quality steel coil, roll-forming the steel through a series of dies. Unlike hot-formed structural I-Beams, it doesn’t need heat for shaping, which makes the manufacturing process more efficient and cost-effective.
There are many benefits to using Light Gauge Steel compared to the more traditional construction methods of wood or concrete. These include:
Durability
Light Gauge Steel construction offers superior strength and durability compared to traditional wood or concrete construction methods. It is moisture and pest resistant and can withstand challenging weather conditions. Importantly, this means there will be no cracking or long-term movement which you might typically find with traditional methods of construction.
Efficiency
Light Gauge Steel is extremely strong and lightweight (weighing up to 40% less than wood). Also due to its superior strength relative to wood, less is needed for construction, resulting in up to 50% faster build times and increased efficiency. It can also be erected in wet conditions, resulting in fewer delays whilst providing consistent quality and accuracy.
Versatility
Light Gauge Steel offers exceptional flexibility, allowing for easy modifications and customisation to meet a variety of design needs. It reduces foundation requirements by approximately 2.5 times, therefore meaning costs will be reduced too.
Cost
Steel frame buildings offer a more cost efficient method of construction to traditional brick or timber construction methods. Steel frame buildings are fast to produce, are fabricated off-site and are much faster to erect with less wastage and provide a more environmentally friendly frame than both timber and concrete as it can be recycled.
The lightweight properties of light gauge steel frames allow for easy transportation and handling, which provides extra cost savings. It is precise to +/- 1mm per 10m, meaning there is very minimal waste during construction.
Sustainability
Buildings constructed using LGS are healthier, more energy efficient and enable more sustainable living for the life of the building. It is a sustainable material that can be infinitley recycled and reused. Steel from old buildings, cars and industrial machinery is collected and processed, reducing the need for mining and the associated carbon emissions.