Integrating Timber and Steel
Integrating Timber and Steel
The Benefits of Combining Timber and Steel in Construction
Combining materials like timber and steel is a clever way to achieve desired looks but also desired performance.
We are timber framers first and foremost. We love natural solid wood. We design, produce and install timber frames with traditional joinery, where the structural support comes through the joints and post and beam joinery, where steel timber connectors make the joints. We love that wood is infinitely flexible - it can be integrated with lots of materials, such as steel, for different looks and feels.
To build with efficiency, durability and quality in mind means being flexible and open to different concepts such as integrating timber and steel.
Why use steel with timber?
Steel is used with timber for 2 reasons:
- aesthetics
- essential additional structural support of the timber
Aesthetics
Steel can be visibly incorporated into a timber frame for purely aesthetic reasons, for example, if the client is interested in a frame with an industrial look. Visible metal is certainly very on trend right now.
Additional Structural Support
Timber frames with wide-spanning trusses, hammer beam trusses, or some softer woods may require steel for structural support. Where steel is required but the client does not want it to be visible, we work to design the frame so the steel is hidden.
In such cases, the steel is acting as a facilitator or accessory to the timber structure. It can contribute or even be the key to a viable timber/steel solution where a timber-only solution would not be appropriate.
Balancing both
Where steel is required structurally and the client wants it to be visible the right aesthetic is crucial. In the modern timber industry we love using our expertise to work with structural engineers to bring the architect’s vision to life by integrating steel with timber.
We constantly try to ensure compatibility between these two materials, structurally and aesthetically. Steel shows undeniable mechanical properties and versatility that justify its long-term widespread use within the construction industry.
Examples
Steel Plates
A thick steel sheet that is used for connections. It is fastened to a beam with bolts. Plates can help support heavier structural loads than timber alone, which allows for wide-spanned truss designs. They can also be used to provide shear resistance and resistance against other types of force.
Steel Tie Rod
A thin steel rod used to resist tension in a truss. The steel rods can be hidden inside wood, or on show as a bare rod. In this example (photo on right) of our work on the 32ft truss the steel tension rods were inside wood with powder coated acorn nuts and structural plates left to see.
Steel Tie Rod
In this project custom structural steel was used to add architectural flair and a strong industrial aesthetic.
The gorgeous home has a hybrid wood metal engineered truss with open web trusses. Seen here is the impressive black powder coated 2-way underslung tie-rod tension truss in the living room. It became affectionately known as the “snowflake under-tension truss” by the crew.
This recent project really shows the quality of both the timber and the metal - everything is exposed for the eye to see.
Steel Stairs
One of the more obvious areas where timber and steel are integrated is in the design of stairs.
Get in touch
There are multiple reasons why one would choose to combine timber and steel in a project. One of the obvious reasons is that it is simply beautiful. Timber and steel compliment each other and they rarely go unnoticed. Visible connections and fully displayed structures make a statement about honest and thoughtful design.
At International Timberframers, whilst we are solid natural wood lovers, we believe strongly in designing with purpose. When the opportunity presents itself, we will gladly welcome steel as part of our projects.
Author: Sigi Liebmann