House Extension - Steel Frame

pioneer22

Hey our builder has suggested a steel frame instead of traditional brick, which I am all for. More sustainable, less man hours, stronger etc. 
Are there any major issues with this? Or has anyone had this before?

weeg

Steel framed extensions are common. However, you need to be talking to an architect or engineer, not a builder.

ryan7

Consult with an engineer as above.
Different build types can some sometimes put off lenders when it comes to sell.

sevenhills

Loads of those local to where I live. They are just oblong metal/wood boxes with double glass sliding doors and maybe an additional window.

They must be a lot cheaper, I assume planning and building certs not needed.

FreeBear

sevenhills said: They must be a lot cheaper, I assume planning and building certs not needed.

If it is a shed at the bottom of the garden (garden room or office space), then it would probably fall outside planning/building regs as an out building. For a habitable space connected to the main property, building regs/certs will be required, as would planning permission (although it may well fall under permitted development).

Doozergirl

sevenhills said:

Loads of those local to where I live. They are just oblong metal/wood boxes with double glass sliding doors and maybe an additional window.

They must be a lot cheaper, I assume planning and building certs not needed.

Absolutely not true! 

mug2007

We had loads of problems with our traditional extension.  We had a massive steel across the back of our house for one of those all the rage fancy kitchen, dining, lounge and play spaces.  We had to pay a welder to come out on site on multiple occasions to sort out the steel. Builder said we should have gone for a steel frame, apparently wouldn’t of had this problem and I believe it would have been a neater design not requiring massive steels/posts in places that have impacted kitchen design and views out of windows etc.  Worth looking into with a suitably experienced structural engineer.

Davesnave

sevenhills said:

Loads of those local to where I live.

They must be a lot cheaper, I assume planning and building certs not needed.

Where are you though, Uzbekistan?