Ternium : How much is it to build a house without bricks

Dry building with steel profiles allows high-comfort construction with a final cost similar to that of a traditional wet building.

The budget of a traditional wet building with the same thermal insulation and interior comfort as one with Steel Framing has a cost difference in favor of the steel-frame system. That claim is based on the extreme rationalization required by the steel system and the possibility of setting a production chain contributing to its economic efficiency. Thus, it is possible to maximize the design and to lower costs.

'Another aspect which contributes to efficiency in determining costs is that Steel Framing allows knowing exactly the quantity of materials that will be used with the memory of structural calculation. Therefore, the final value is most accurately stated,' points Paula Ale, sales manager of Perfiles JMA.

In the Steel profiles system, the efficient use of resources also reaches workforce. The timing of 'dry work' is reduced to one third with respect to traditional wet work. 'It is possible to build a simple-family house of 100 and 200mturnkey in 90 days,' claims Mamarián, from Imecon. And he explains that the impact of workforce costs in Steel Framing is under 40%, while wet work reaches almost 50%.

Plumbing and electricity installers also reduce their stay in the construction, which saves costs by yield and reduction of 'gild help' for the main contractor.

When calculating the materials for a dry work, the room for waste reduction is remarkable. According to Mamarián, it is about 20% for the wet work and 5% in dry work. 'Eventually, the extra profiles can be reused, for instance, to make furniture,' notes Ale.

The resale value of the building is underpinned by the energy saving of the construction quality and the refurbishing and extensions versatility.

Cost analysis

Since January 2017 Consul Steel consulting firm, specialized in Steel Framing, has been performing cost analysis of an 80 mprototype housing called 'Casa DO' (House DO), which includes monthly updates, in Buenos Aires Province.

'We design a detailed cost make-up of the different stages of the building process, realization of the project, costs and incidences of material and workforce, etc. with the aim of providing the professional with a useful tool and helping overcome general doubts of the market,' explains the report developed by Matías Mousse, Architecture and Services Department of the consulting firm.

It can be inferred from June's report that the price per square meter of a project in Steel Framing is lower than the values of traditional building and depends on the selected kind of finish and insulation. 'Casa Do' prototype costs AR$11,064.54 per mwhile an equivalent housing reaches AR$11,600.84 per m, according to costs of Vivienda Magazine, June, 2017 issue.

The analysis considers: foundation, levelling, engineering, complete Steel Framing structure, water and wind insulation, acoustic insulation, thermal insulation, vapor barrier, finish for flat cover, interior plaquette, interior finish, ceiling, EIFS outside finish, interior floor, woodwork, electrical installations, plumbing installation, gas installation. It includes materials and workforce. This could be summed up in a 'turnkey' housing.

Source: Clarín.