Welcome to the Laserframe Framing Facts website. Because framing is the most critically important component of a home, we believe you should be fully aware of the advantages of timber framing in New Zealand’s unique environment, and also be aware of the potential shortfalls of other framing options introduced recently.
Rust update
September 14, 2010: Galvanised steel framing in this 10-year-old dwelling in the Auckland suburb of Cockle Bay shows clear signs of corrosion... read more about potential corrosion risks with galvanised steel framing
A timber framed home is warmer
Wood has been shown to be 400 times better than steel in keeping heat in and cold out... more information about thermal performance in timber framed houses
A timber framed home is more environmentally friendly
Numerous international studies have confirmed that timber framing is a more environmentally responsible way to build...more about environmentally friendly timber framed homes
A timber framed home gives you more security
The impact of a small fire in a steel-framed house could be potentially more costly to repair than if the house was built with timber... more about fire safety in a timber framed house
A timber framed home is more energy efficient
No matter where you live in New Zealand, a timber-framed home will be warmer than a steel framed house of similar construction...more information about energy efficiency in timber framed homes
Timber is easy to work with
Wood can be trimmed and shaped easily and provides greater flexibility on site... more information about how easy it is to build a timber framed house
A timber framed home won’t rust
Steel framing is usually galvanised but where it is cut, screwed, welded or punched...more information about corrosion in residential steel framing
Timber framing has been tried, tested and proven in New Zealand over 150 years in more than 1.5 million Kiwi homes. It’s what we’ve grown up with, what works.
It also happens to be one of the most environmentally friendly building materials in the world. It is renewable, sustainable and grown right here with every tree every day absorbing carbon to help maintain a healthy future for generations to come.
In New Zealand, we’re all more at home with wood.
