Aren’t steel frames noisier than timber?

No – steel homes are quiet inside. The exterior walls and ceiling are filled with thick insulation, restricting outside noise. Wood contracts as it dries and at ambient temperatures it expands. However, a steel framed home doesn’t creak, as humidity variations and temperature changes have less effect. 

A steel frame is mechanically jointed. In a well-constructed and insulated home, thermally induced movement is not an issue. Steel framing expands and contracts at rates very similar to the other materials used in building, which means it is unlikely that there will be noise or cornice cracking problems. If a dark colour profiled metal roof cladding is chosen it is good practice to use an insulating separator between the metal cladding and the purlin, and to tell the roofer to use oversized holes.