In frame construction, the skeleton of the building must be constructed from a material with minimal thermal conductivity. Otherwise, the entire frame will turn into continuous bridges of cold - the reason for the formation of condensation. That is why preference was given to timber. But wood has many other disadvantages, and steel structures did not allow for heat retention. These problems were solved by a thermal profile that combined the best qualities of both materials. In its creation, technologies were used, thanks to which the steel frame ceased to be a heat-conducting structure.
Technological secret of thermal profile
A channel-shaped profile is made from galvanized steel using a cold-rolled method. Perforations are applied to its central shelf. It features original notches, which are the main protection against heat leaks. The length and location of the notches are calculated by formulas and have physical justifications. Thus, the thermal profile is endowed with low thermal conductivity, which is practically reduced to zero.
Heat tending outward begins to pass through the perforation holes for a long time, since they are staggered in several rows. As a result, it is distributed in the notches and partially returns back. The cold from the street penetrates through these same openings, and during the time it passes inside, it manages to warm up. Thus, the meeting of cold and warm flows in the thickness of the wall is excluded, which eliminates the formation of condensation.
Perforation prevents the appearance of cold bridges, which is why the thermal profile has excellent heat-saving characteristics. So, the problems of frame construction have been solved. Now builders are building structures that have improved properties:
- a light weight,
- good strength and stability,
- short frame assembly time,
- eliminating heat loss,
- absolute fire safety,
- Possibility of assembly at any time of the year,
- no shrinkage of the finished frame (compared to wood).
Characteristics
This building material is manufactured with a wall height of 60-200 mm (the standard size increment is 20 mm). There are also heights of 250 mm and 300 mm. Additionally, it may have stiffeners. This design is produced for load-bearing parts of the frame with increased load. The shape is available in U and C-shaped thermal profiles. Holes for self-tapping screws, flanges and other necessary components for connecting parts are provided at the production stage.
That is why each object has its own set of steel elements. All these factors make it possible to quickly assemble houses made of thermal profiles up to three floors high on a construction site. For low-rise private and commercial construction, this construction method has become the best compared to other frame technologies.
Construction Features
Manufacturers produce thermal profiles made of steel with a thickness of 0.7-2 mm. Frames assembled from it are called LSTK (light steel thin-walled structures). The technology is popular in Scandinavian countries, where fast, lightweight and heat-saving construction is valued. Finished houses have the following weight values:
- 1 m2 of steel frame weighs approximately 25-50 kg,
- 1 m2 of a finished building places a load on the foundation of approximately 200 kg.
These characteristics allow not only to save on foundation construction, but also to carry out construction on difficult soils. The frame assembly time is also reduced to a minimum: a team of 3 builders can assemble the skeleton of a 1-story house in 4 weeks. At the same time, there are no restrictions on the seasonality of work, since the materials can be used at very low temperatures.
The outer wall of the house, for the construction of which a thermal profile was used, consists of the following materials (the sequence of layers is observed from the inside to the outside):
- drywall,
- vapor barrier material (for example, film),
- thermoprofile frame,
- insulation (mineral wool slabs),
- windproof film,
- facade cladding (for example, metal siding).
The construction sequence is as follows:
- Construction of the foundation.
- Frame assembly.
- Laying insulation.
- Facade cladding.
- Cladding of internal walls.
Where else can you use a thermal profile?
In addition to the construction of low-rise individual and standard buildings, the material is used for the reconstruction of old houses. At the same time, with its help, load-bearing walls, interfloor partitions, and roofing systems are completely rebuilt. The thermal profile is also used as lathing for additional insulation of the old facade with mineral wool or expanded polystyrene slabs.
It should be noted that when constructing frame houses from this material, supply and exhaust ventilation is installed in the building. It is required for premises with PVC windows and sealed doors. Air exchange can be improved by installing wooden double-glazed windows and natural ventilation. The latter is most effective for 1-2 storey buildings.
Frame construction of low-rise buildings from light steel thin-walled structures, also called for brevity LSTK– a relatively new technology.
The kit for building a house is manufactured at the factory, which improves the quality of construction, simplifies the assembly process and minimizes the time needed to build a house.
The frame from which the house will be built is made of galvanized steel profiles, the thickness of which varies from 0.75 to 3 millimeters. They can have different shapes and configurations: S or U-shaped (Photo 1)
Photo 1: Types of LSTK profiles (warm or thermal profiles)
Steel, as you know, has high thermal conductivity, so the main advantage of the technology is the so-called “warm” profile, which does not allow heat to escape through the steel structural elements (both external walls and roof rafters).
What is the difference between a regular profile and a thermal profile?
Their main difference is perforation, which blocks heat leakage.
In the warm profile, oblong-shaped holes are made in a checkerboard pattern over its entire area. Accordingly, in order to overcome the boundary, heat has to “dodge,” so to speak, in this perforation system, after which the heat flow practically disappears.
The only disadvantage of this design is strength. But it is compensated by the use of reinforcement elements and a panel device during installation.
Building a house from LSTK is very simple.
A drawing is prepared, then a frame with all the necessary elements is manufactured in a workshop or factory. All components are marked accordingly, they are packaged panel by panel and delivered to the construction site.
At the construction site, while the LSTC frame is being manufactured, it is poured.
Most often, lightweight steel frames begin to be assembled directly on the foundation slabs, but the construction of walls and roof rafters can also be assembled directly on the ground,
The LSTC frame is attached to the base with fastening anchors of various types, and it is assembled using heat-resistant self-tapping screws. Welding when installing “LSTK” is not necessary at all.
After the frame fragments are assembled, they are manually installed in the right place. This is not difficult since their weight is small: even large modules and fragments rarely exceed 100 kilograms in weight.
After completing the installation of the frame, they proceed to the installation of waterproofing and thermal insulation. The installation technology here is the same as for all frame houses. Next they begin finishing the walls, installing doors and windows. You can do all this with your own hands, even if you hired a team for the installation of the LSTK itself, since this work is simple.
How to build a house from LSTK quickly.
In this case, you won’t have to do almost anything with your own hands, since a highly prepared frame panel is ordered from the factory. All profiles are assembled where they are made - in the workshop.
All panels are immediately filled with blocks for windows and doors, installed insulation, hydro- and vapor barriers, and even installed electrical wiring and finishing (roughly, of course).
As a result of this work, an almost finished house is obtained, which will need to be brought to the construction site and assembled.
As always, there is only one downside - it will be much more expensive, and you also need to add the costs of delivery and unloading, so the cost of the house will of course increase somewhat.
Taking this into account, high-readiness panels are worth ordering if you don’t want to do anything yourself, but need housing as quickly as possible. This option is also very suitable for building a country house.
Do-it-yourself installation of a warm profile
The installation location of the lower profile (guide) should be marked on the foundation. The lower guide profile is laid on the waterproofing; 2 layers of ordinary roofing felt will do.
Construction begins from the corners of the house. Wall studs are installed first on the lower profile, strictly controlling the vertical. Then they proceed to the installation of intermediate racks. Once a sufficient number of them have been installed, the upper guide profiles are attached.
To ensure reliability of the joint, the upper guide profiles are overlapped. Temporary bracing is removed only after the panels have been secured and fastened together to the main elements of the frame, partitions and floor panels have been installed, and the building structure has acquired the necessary rigidity.
Frame walls and water
The main threat to the walls of a house made of LSFC is water. The thing is that vapors from the inside will always tend to the outside, and when penetrating through the roof and walls they form condensation due to entering a cold environment.
There will be nothing wrong with the metal LSTK frame - it is galvanized, but the material from which the walls are made will gradually begin to become damp, and, therefore, the heat-saving characteristics will begin to deteriorate sharply, and sometimes even freeze.
In this case, the walls will require additional protection. Particular attention should be paid to the thickness of the insulating layer. The thickness of the insulation is calculated based on the climate of the area and the temperature regime maintained in the house.
It is necessary to install a vapor barrier from the inside of the LSTC house structure, for which you can use a roofing film. A super-diffusion membrane is installed on top of the insulation layer with a gap of 4-5 centimeters between the finishing (cladding) of the facade of the house and the waterproofing layer - this will help the steam to evaporate faster and without residue..
LSTK houses and safety
The very term “light steel thin-walled structures” already contains a reminder that a house made of lstk will not be friendly with electric current - steel is steel. Therefore, take care of protection in advance. The concept of protecting a house made from LSTK includes grounding and lightning protection.
The entire house will need to be surrounded by a grounding loop, to which the lstk frame itself and all electrical conductors (even hypothetical ones) will need to be connected.
In a house made of LSTK it is necessary to install a lightning rod and carry out work on grounding the roof. Also install RCDs and circuit breakers.
"LSTK" - cost of the house
The frame of a building for finishing is completed in 1-2 months when sheathing and insulating the assembled frame and in 2-3 weeks when assembling a building from ready-made factory panels.
Small (up to 100 sq. m.) one-story houses from prefabricated panels can be assembled in 3-5 days. Construction cost – 16,000 – 18,000 rubles. for 1 sq. m.
The cost of building materials is 11-12 thousand rubles per 1 sq. m. m.
At the same time, the cost of the lstk itself - metal frame does not exceed 3-3.5 thousand rubles per 1 sq. m. m.
Do-it-yourself construction of a house from LSTK
1. I made a shallow strip foundation with my own hands with a reinforced concrete floor on the 1st floor.
2. We assemble the frame on the first floor of the house from LSTK fragments. The next step is sheathing followed by insulation of the walls. As you can see in the photo, the assembly of a house from LSTK is done with your own hands, i.e. without the use of special equipment. The assembly accuracy of the lightweight structure, even in this installation mode, is approximately one millimeter.
4. Installation of floors made of profiled sheets is done on beams made of galvanized profiles. The layout of the floors in this case is as follows: corrugated sheets, gypsum fiber board (bulk) floors, plywood with water-repellent impregnation. The construction time for the floors was 3 days, and the cost was 75% lower than concrete floors. The final finishing of the ceilings in the house is supposed to be done from LSTK.
5. We proceed to the construction and installation of the roof truss system with our own hands. All elements of the truss structure, such as beams, the rafters themselves, sheathing, etc., are also assembled from LSTC (galvanized steel profile).
6. At this stage, the installation of sheathing under the roof covering and its insulation is carried out, for even greater and better thermal insulation. The roof covering can be made of any material.
7. After the house has been roofed, you can proceed to work on insulating the walls inside the frame. For this purpose they use (in this example of construction houses made of light steel thin-walled structures), polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam concrete or foam concrete (M300 or 400), as well as mini-slab (density 80 kilograms per m 2).
8. The inside of the walls is covered with OSB boards. If desired, it can be replaced with a cement particle board, or a glass-magnesite sheet, or everyone’s favorite plasterboard (gypsum plasterboard).
How to decorate a house made of light steel thin-walled structures (LSTC)
Cement-bonded or glass-magnesite boards are attached to the facades and plastered, then the finishing is done. The variety of façade finishing for houses made from LSTK is truly great - it can be almost any façade materials. Particularly notable are fiber cement facade panels and metal siding, imitating various materials - stone, brick, plaster, wood, etc. The finish looks natural, but is very practical - today you can find panels that have the property of self-cleaning surfaces.
LSTK technology – arrangement of components and structures
Construction of a boundary wall
Overlapping device (left)
Installation of LSTC roofing (right)
On a note:
The assembled panels are lifted onto the foundation and connected with self-tapping screws. Diagonal metal connections give greater rigidity to the frame.
A U-shaped strapping profile is fixed along the perimeter of the frame walls - it covers the ends of the beams and connects them together.
When installing the truss structure, a continuous moisture-resistant flooring is laid on the attic floor.
The MSK Stroy Dom company offers to build frame houses from LSTK, which are the most popular type of housing today. The catalog presents a variety of buildings of small or large sizes, which are based on a metal frame.
Finishing of frame houses using LSTC technology is carried out using high-quality finishing materials at an affordable price. Thanks to the extensive possibilities for architectural design, such houses are chosen by many connoisseurs of beautiful housing.
Construction of frame houses LSTK
This construction technology is used in the construction of buildings up to four floors high. LSTK frame houses are profitable to build due to the low costs of construction work and the affordable cost of materials.
- The low weight of LSTK structures allows the construction of an inexpensive foundation, which reduces costs by 30 percent.
- The frame is assembled in a fairly short time, so there is no need to hire specialized construction equipment and a large number of labor.
- The building material has excellent heat-saving properties, which reduces heating costs.
LSTK frame houses are shown in the photo in the company’s catalog; the customer can choose a suitable construction option or order his own version. Based on the customer's design, a three-dimensional model of the frame is created through careful calculations. The resulting model is provided with all the necessary structural elements.
Frame installation
The customer receives a numbered and packaged set of profiles, which are mounted according to the presented diagram. To do this, it is not necessary to have the necessary knowledge and construction skills; installation is quick and simple. The exact dimensions of the profiles do not create problems with fitting, so assembling the frame of the building will take from several hours to several days, depending on the size of the building being erected.
The installation of a frame made of LSTK can be carried out either on your own or by seeking the help of the company’s specialists. The construction of multi-apartment buildings from LSTK is allowed in any weather, regardless of the time of year.
Despite the external lightness of the structure, such buildings are distinguished by their reliability, high resistance to the Russian climate, and durability. The lightweight design does not shrink or deform, maintaining its shape throughout its entire service life.
Just a few years ago, the use of metal for the construction of external load-bearing walls of an individual residential building could not have been dreamed of by a Russian developer even in a nightmare. With all due respect to the strength of metal structures, their high thermal conductivity and susceptibility to corrosion did not allow Russian architects and designers to lay metal as the basis for the enclosing structures of individual residential buildings. But back in the fifties of the last century, Swedish engineers found a way to reduce the thermal conductivity of thin-walled metal profiles to the level of wooden blocks. To do this, longitudinal slots were made in the profile wall in a checkerboard pattern.
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According to research, slots in the profile walls significantly reduce heat loss through the walls of a building due to lengthening the heat flow path and the specially shaped edge properties of the slots.
In addition, the thickness of the steel sheet from which the profile is made significantly affects the thermal conductivity: the thinner the sheet, the higher the heat-protective characteristics of the profile. The profile with slots was called a thermal profile, and enclosing structures made from it began to successfully compete in heat-protective parameters with structures made of wood.
The creation of a thermal profile has significantly expanded the capabilities of technology based on the use of Light Steel Thin-Wall Structures (LSTC). Prior to this, structures made from light steel fiber reinforced concrete materials were successfully used indoors, mainly for the installation of drywall. Today, one of the main areas of application of modern technology in Russia and abroad is the construction of warm individual residential buildings and the installation of attics, including during the reconstruction of houses of the first mass series. A new concept has appeared in the vocabulary of builders - LSTK houses. These are houses for the construction of which LSTK technology is used.
Considering the relevance of the development of this area, the All-Russian Association of Metal Builders was created, uniting more than 30 companies that produce about 1 million tons of bent profiles from galvanized steel per year. For comparison: the volume of use of lightweight steel in the USA and Great Britain is 6 and 3.5 million tons per year, respectively.
How to build a light and durable frame of a residential building from metal and try to avoid corrosion, the formation of cold bridges and condensation? The answer to this question must be sought taking into account the characteristics of the materials and structures used. The use of high-quality insulation materials, insulating and vapor-permeable protective films has made it possible to develop a reliable design of buildings that use LGSF frames. As the external walls, LGST construction made from thermoprofiles is used here; the frame of the internal walls and partitions is the usual bent LGST profile.
“But what about the “dew point” problem?” an interested visitor to our site will ask. “After all, when the outside air temperature drops, moisture will still appear.” Indeed, the “dew point” occurs in the wall structure of any house. But it is important where it is located and how water vapor is removed. In houses with a frame made of LSTK, the “dew point” is located inside the building wall, and the problem of condensation can only be solved with a well-designed ventilation system for external walls. Properly executed LSTS projects take into account all the design features and use a whole range of measures to protect against moisture.
Firstly, the enclosing structures are protected from moisture penetrating from inside the house with a vapor barrier film located under the drywall.
Secondly, on the outside, the frame filled with insulation is protected by a vapor-permeable wind-waterproofing (in the figure - a vapor-removing membrane), which freely allows the moisture contained in the insulation to pass out, but protects the insulation from weathering and getting wet.
Thirdly, a ventilated gap is provided in the structure between the steam removal membrane and the outer cladding, in which conditions for air draft are created. A constant flow of outside air easily removes water vapor from the gap.
LSTK frame houses do not put forward any additional requirements for the design of foundations. Moreover, in this case, the load on the foundation is significantly reduced and this makes it possible to simplify the design of the foundation and reduce the costs of its construction. Bored foundations, the construction of which the Columbus construction company specializes in, are ideal for buildings made of LSTK.
The attachment points for walls to the foundation (base) are well designed and ensure high reliability of the structure. When connecting profiles to each other, individual elements up to 2 mm thick are fastened, as a rule, using self-tapping screws with a diameter of 5 - 7 mm. The connection of profiles with a wall thickness of two or more millimeters is carried out using ordinary bolts.
The assembly of individual elements is carried out in the workshop. At the construction site, these elements are assembled into a single structure. As floors, designs for houses made from light steel frames use bent profiles with a wall thickness of two or more mm, and for large spans, bent profiles in combination with load-bearing steel beams.
Profiled steel sheets are laid on top of the beams, which serve as the base of the floor. The sheets are attached to the floor beams with self-tapping screws. Such structures are more often used in industrial buildings. In residential buildings, it is easier to replace corrugated sheets with plywood, on which you can install any floor covering, including parquet.
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ROOF CONSTRUCTION USING THIN-WALLED STRUCTURES
Of particular interest to architects and designers is the use of LSTC technology for the construction of both warm and cold roofs. Manufacturers of LSTK are ready to produce profiles of any length. A long profile is a long rafter leg with all the ensuing possibilities. If desired, the production of LSTK can be organized even at a construction site. This allows, if necessary, to remove transport size restrictions. The design of a thin-walled roof differs little from the design of a wooden roof. Here it is easy to provide ventilation of the under-roof space, insulate and protect the roofing pie from moisture. Taking into account the fact that the price of steel roofs is growing slower than the price of wood, today steel roofs in many cases turn out to be cheaper than wooden ones.
We would like to emphasize to interested visitors to our website the possibility of manufacturing light trusses with spans of up to 18 meters from thin-walled profiles. Such structures make it possible to cover industrial facilities, sports facilities, and shopping areas. LSTK projects here, as a rule, are cheaper than other technical solutions.
LGTS roofing - technology allows:
1. Use only non-flammable materials.
2. Guarantee the service life of the roof for at least 100 years.
3. Ensure high precision installation and ease of assembly.
4. Reduce the load on the walls and foundation of the house.
5. Ensure high thermal performance of the roof.
EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR FINISHING OF LSTK BUILDINGS
As internal cladding and finishing materials, LSTC technology widely uses standard plasterboard and gypsum fiber sheets, mounted in one, two, and sometimes three layers. The number of layers is determined based on the requirements for protecting steel structures from exposure to fire in the event of a fire.
Oriented strand board OSB panels combine well with structures made from thin-walled profiles
Depending on the architectural design and customer requirements, various materials can be used as external wall cladding: facing brick, wood, plastic or metal siding, stone and cement materials.
Any known materials can be used as a roofing covering in buildings made of LGTS: metal tiles, flexible tiles, profiled sheets, natural tiles, etc.
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The main advantages of buildings made from light steel frames.
. Low specific weight of structures.
The weight per square meter of the load-bearing steel frame of the building is in the range of 20–25 kg, and the weight per square meter of the finished building averages 150 kg. This makes it possible to reduce the cost of foundations, expand the possibilities of construction on “heavy” soils, use LSTK in the reconstruction of buildings (including severely weakened ones), and carry out construction in dense urban areas without the use of heavy lifting equipment.
Effective energy saving.
The use of effective insulation in frames made of thermal profiles makes it possible to provide thermal resistance coefficient values of up to 5.6 m2 °C/W without taking into account possible insulation options for the facade. Designing LGSF with such indicators can significantly reduce the cost of heating buildings.
Environmental friendliness.
In the construction of buildings built with the use of lightweight steel frames, plasterboard and gypsum fiber sheets are usually used as cladding, and stone wool or ecowool is used as insulation. These materials are environmentally friendly and can be 100% recyclable. Production, transportation and installation of structures require much lower energy costs than traditional materials. In the construction of buildings based on LGSF, “dry” technological processes are predominantly used. Excess moisture does not accumulate in the walls, and good sound insulation, moisture and airtightness of the structures create a comfortable living environment.
Resistance to seismic and dynamic loads.
Buildings that have LSTC as a load-bearing system are able to withstand seismic loads up to 9 points on the Richter scale. This is explained by the elasticity of the building's steel frame, in which additional bracing is used to increase seismic resistance.
Fire resistance.
The fire resistance of structures is ensured by the tile cladding material, the number of layers of which can be optimally selected for specific fire safety requirements.
Reliability and durability of structures.
A high degree of reliability of buildings made from light steel fiber reinforced concrete is ensured by the dimensional stability of steel profiles, which are not affected by biological and humidity-temperature processes, unlike wood. The durability of building structures is determined mainly by the service life of the metal frame. When using profiles that are made of galvanized steel with a zinc consumption rate of 275 g/sq.m, according to a British Steel study, in accordance with the natural emission of zinc, the life of the structures is more than a hundred years. LSTK units are well designed and tested many times.
Wide architectural possibilities.
When using LSTK, it is possible to cover spans of up to 14 meters without intermediate supports. This allows architects to make maximum use of the internal space and create original layouts. Additional arguments for constructors and designers are provided by the possibility of locating communications and equipment inside the walls.
Precise production of materials to design specifications.
The use of modern design methods allows today to create specifications in electronic form. This makes it possible to produce profiles with high precision, reduce the cost of LSTK and reduce construction time.
Fast, efficient all-season installation.
The absence of “wet” processes makes it possible to build knowledge based on LSTK all year round. This is especially important for investors, as well as in the construction of economical housing, where the return on investment is a determining factor.
Low operating cost.
LSTK houses are easy to repair by replacing damaged elements. The high thermal insulation properties of such buildings significantly reduce heating costs.
Possibility of use in any climatic conditions.
The pictures show completed projects of cottages, townhouses, and campsites built in countries with dramatically different climates.
Of particular interest is the use of LSTK technology for the installation of attics. In this area, all the advantages of technology are used to the greatest extent. LSTK attics are light and warm. They can be built at any time of the year.
Today you can buy a thermoprofile in any city. The technology has become absolutely accessible. There is an increasingly common request on the Internet - do-it-yourself LSTK. It is difficult to understand what the authors of such a text mean. Let us note for non-specialists that the production of LSFC, especially thermal profiles, is a rather complex process that requires special equipment for LSFC.
A completely new direction for the use of light steel thin-walled structures was proposed by Valery Martynyuk, Development Director of SMP MARCO LLC. As a result, a patent was obtained for a prefabricated monolithic floor beam, the base of which is made of a thin-walled LSTK profile. Now the technology for installing floors has been significantly simplified; it has become possible to install concrete floors with spans of up to 15 meters.
In order for your future home to meet your expectations, you first need to “build” it on paper. But we will not repeat the truisms that design? This is the most important stage of construction. Instead, we want to draw your attention to the advantages of ordering a house project (cottage, household, commercial and industrial facilities) from Astekhome.
Individual approach
As part of the implementation of the affordable housing program, we offer standard and individual designs of houses made of light-weight steel frames. Moreover, the first option does not at all limit the customer during construction. Despite the fact that the development is carried out using already prepared parameters, there is always the opportunity to customize it for yourself, that is, change individual characteristics; layout, room sizes, location of plumbing units, etc. Ready-made designs for houses made of LSTK can be considered as a basis that can be adjusted taking into account the preferences and capabilities of the customer.
We work quickly!
Having studied all the features of designing objects made from light steel frames and having perfectly mastered the technology of constructing prefabricated residential, commercial and industrial buildings and structures, Astekhome specialists will develop an individual house project for you as quickly as possible. We guarantee a high professional level and short deadlines.
Availability
You will be able to implement the projects of houses made of LSTK that we have developed yourself, even if you are not a builder! We will provide you with a detailed project that even those who are building for the first time can understand and build a house. When ordering LSTK, you will receive a ready-made house kit, cut and marked in production and equipped with all the necessary construction and finishing materials.
- We are giving away projects of houses made from LSTK as a gift!
Every client who orders an LSTK profile from us is given a house design as a gift! This will reduce both financial and time costs of construction.
Call us. And you will have your own home in 2 months!