Steel framing
Steel is increasingly used in modern house framing, and is valued for its versatility, longevity and strength.
What is a steel frame?
Most buildings structured around...
Structural insulated panel (SIP) walls
Structural insulated panels (or SIPs) are typically made of wood and styrofoam, and are an effective alternative to light frame construction.
What are structural insulated...
Straw bale houses
Straw bale houses aren't particularly common, but offer excellent insulation and a cost effective way to build a home.
Straw bale houses are typically easy...
Asbestos sheeting
Asbestos sheets, when broken, can cause cancer. They are often found in older houses, where they were used for insulation purposes.
Asbestos sheeting needs to...
Oriented strand board (OSB)
Oriented strand board (or OSB as it's known) is used in light frame construction to offer greater strength, stability and reinforcement.
What is oriented strand...
Framing materials
The different materials that can be used to create the frame or structure of a home will have a big impact on its strength,...
How to choose walls
Some types of walls and materials are far better suited to different types of houses and climates than others. Find out what makes for...
Cyclone code requirements for walls
Depending on where you live, there may be special requirements for fire or cyclone codes. See how these affect you.
Each year, Australian lives are...
Recycled wall materials
One of the best ways to save energy is to use recycled materials. Find out about using recycled materials for walls.
One of the more...
Thermal mass and wall insulation
Walls can play a big part in how energy efficient a house is - particularly in terms of how much heat they absorb and...