A company of steel Click Systems is helping build strong homes throughout the South Island with its increasingly popular lightweight steel framing. These innovative building products are not only safer and easier to work with, but are healthier for the occupants and the environment, and more cost effective than traditional options.
Strength of steel framing Click Systems’ main product is lightweight steel framing, which it has been designing, supplying and building with since 2006. Owner Les McKenzie says building steel-framed houses has become increasingly popular since Canterbury’s earthquakes. Steel framing is a straight and stable product that delivers a perfect finish. Steel won’t warp or twist because it doesn’t absorb moisture, which means fewer maintenance problems such as cracked linings and sticking doors. Steel is exceptionally strong and suitable for the toughest conditions. It is fire resistant and has been shown to have excellent earthquake resistance. Its durability means that it
won’t rot or support mould growth and it won’t suffer from borer or other insects.
It employs nine designers and detailers, which owner Les McKenzie says is a huge benefit to customers.
McKenzie says steel is only a third of the weight of timber, meaning there will be a lot less momentum, and potentially damage, during an earthquake.
“We do full architectural design and consent processing, as well as steel framing design, so we understand the process better. This means that we are able provide better quality support to other designers and local authorities.
Steel framed houses are similarly priced to timber-framed houses, with Click Systems’ framing tested to earthquake level nine. Steel framing also offers faster construction, as framing can be erected in any weather. Click Systems works closely with South Steel Construction and supplies steel framing for many of the company’s commercial projects. “We provide South Steel Construction with their internal fitouts on big commercial buildings,” Les says.
“We now have an inhouse engineer as well so that we can control the entire process from start to finish with no hiccups or delays. “Other companies just take plans and turn them into steel framing, but we do it quicker, more cost effective and
more accurately. It means there are few problems downstream. “If you have an architect, detailer and engineer in the same building with the framing designer, the communication is far better, which results in a faster, more accurate end product and less down time and cost for our customers.”
T (0800) CLICK WORKS Canterbury Sales: 021 468 136 Otago Sales: 021 155 2860 E enquiry@clickworks.co.nz www.clickworks.co.nz
Click Systems supplies lightweight steel frames anywhere in the South Island and has fulltime sales reps operating out of Christchurch and Dunedin, with all frame manufacturing done in Christchurch.
A full design service Click Systems does what many other steel framing companies can’t do; it does all of its own design and detailing work in house.
The benefits of building in steel South Steel Construction is a market leader in preengineered steel building solutions, offering strong buildings to its Canterbury customers. The Ashburton-based family owned business specialises in pre-engineered and engineered steel buildings of all shapes and sizes, including commercial, industrial and residential. South Steel Construction is one of the fastest growing construction companies in Canterbury, with four teams of talented builders currently employed. It recently opened an office in Rangiora which features its range of turnkey services including demolition, design, engineering, construction and project management. Director Tammy Lynch says the light commercial building market is growing and South Steel Construction is doing a lot of new commercial builds and post earthquake work all around the region. Steel framed buildings are renowned for their strength and longevity, due
to the lightweight steel construction. “Steel framing is stronger and some of it is quicker to build,” Lynch says.
“We’re just about to start a two-storey retail building with apartments above in Worcester Street,” Lynch says.
“It’s ideal for commercial and industrial, but we’re also doing some steel-framed residential housing, particularly in Ashburton.”
South Steel Construction works closely with Click Systems on some designand-build projects, which supplies steel for some jobs.
The company places a large emphasis on customer service and has dedicated project managers assigned to every project from start to finish.
Factfile
Finding the solution in steel
• Light industrial
South Steel Construction offers a wide range of options to ensure every building is right for the client.
• Retail and warehousing
The company collaborates with architects, structural engineers and fire engineers to provide a complete design and build service, delivering preengineered buildings that meet each client’s specific needs, while taking the hassle out of the construction process. Its portfolio of successful projects includes the new CRT building in Rangiora and the Pie Bin in Rangiora, which houses South Steel Construction’s new offices above.
South Steel Construction undertakes a variety of projects, including:
• Commercial/residential mixed use • Office buildings • Workshops and depots • Executive homes, townhouses and holiday homes • Multi-storey residential units • Garages and workshops • Barn-style homes • Machinery and livestock sheds • Horse stables and arenas.
South Steel Construction 119 Archibald Street Ashburton T (03) 308 0324 317b Flaxton Road Rangiora T (03) 423 3276 Freephone 0800 77 25 83 E info@southsteel.co.nz www.southsteel.co.nz