Frame and truss: 10 reasons builders prefer to use prefab

With technological advancements in prefabricated frame and truss production meaning a simple smartphone scan reveals the whole layout in 3D, builders are increasingly turning to offsite construction as a method to bring their builds in on time and on budget.

Carpenter and framer Rhys Parrott, director of Build Wright Carpentry in Melbourne, says he’s seen it all while toughing it out in his more than 18 years in the building game.

As jobsites get more savvy and technology allows for brands to innovate, Rhys says the introduction of prefabricated frames and trusses has revolutionised the way he works.

“Without a doubt, one of the biggest improvements to my job has been prefabricated frames and trusses,” Rhys says.

The tech innovations mean faster install times, less wastage, cost savings and improved safety outcomes for his team now that the majority of his framing and carpentry work on a building site is done mostly using prefabricated frame and truss.

“It’s quicker and speed is a big thing on a site,” Rhys says. “It used to be that the sticks would land and you’d have someone there for at least half a day on a drop saw cutting all your studs or window trims or whatever you need. Then you’ve got the crew putting them all together as per the plans. For a single-storey stick-build it would be about three days.”

Made to size with all the lintels in, prefabricated frames have slashed install time.

“They come and fit where they’re supposed to go; the same job that used to take several days now takes about a day,” Rhys says.

That’s true, says Creation Homes head of construction Matthew Fraser, who works closely with Rhys and his team onsite for the best quality outcomes when it comes to frame and truss.

“Simplicity and consistency are two words that spring to mind when you talk about frames and trusses,” Matthew says. “That gives us a number of advantages.”

Matthew and Rhys give us 10 reasons why prefab frame and truss is used by some of the largest home building companies around Australia.

Tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (work boots, safety glasses, gloves, ear muffs and a mask, for example) and follow Safe Work Australia best practices when on a work or building site.

1. Technological advancements

If the speed and convenience of prefabricated framing isn’t enough to convince you to make the switch, the tech that comes with it might do the trick.

Frames supplied by Bunnings Trade’s Frame and Truss service arrive with a barcode attached. A quick scan with a smartphone pulls up a 3D diagram of the project being worked on, to show exactly where that frame goes.

“It’s the best thing ever invented,” Rhys says. “If you’re looking at where a window or a parapet goes, you just scan the barcode and then zoom in or zoom out and go: ‘Oh, okay, that’s how they’ve designed it, that’s where it goes’ and you assemble it like that... it’s wicked!”

Hand over your plans to Bunnings Frame and Truss specialists, who use software from Pryda Australia – a leading supplier of software, equipment and engineering in frame and truss manufacture – to handle the most complex designs and bring the build to life.

2. Speed

By sending all the architectural and engineering plans to an offsite fabricator, everything is built in a controlled environment and only arrives once it’s ready to be put in place.

“A normal double-storey stick-build can take about 10 days, but with prefab, when everything [needed] arrives on time, then that is about five days per house,” Matthew says. “We literally save 50 per cent on frame construction time as a result.”

Each frame gets checked again for accuracy onsite and can also be adjusted to fit in the case of uneven slabs or measurements being a bit out.

3. Quality

The same offsite production that speeds up installation results in a more consistent finish, adds Creation Homes’ construction manager, Stefan Smilevski.

“Because the frames and trusses are made [by using the] shop drawings and then steel drawings, architect’s plans, engineering reports and whatever else is needed, it’s done properly,” he says.

“What arrives onsite is exactly what you need. With a good supplier, the frames and trusses that arrive can just be put straight into place.”

4. Cost

Although a prefabricated frame might be initially more expensive, Matthew says the bulk-buy option and the labour time-saving when it can be hard to find skilled trades in this area makes it worthwhile.

And while Rhys admits the labour costs for a stick-build might be a little higher on the surface, the time being saved in the long run also keeps his crew in demand on the job.

“You can punch out a lot of work,” Rhys says. “So you move on to the next job faster.”

5. Safety

The fact frames and trusses are pre-assembled means onsite safety improves.

“The use of power tools goes down massively because there’s just less of them required onsite, which is always a good thing [as it improves safety and noise levels],” Stefan says. “There’s minimal use of drop saws, for example, because the cuts are already done.”

Even something as simple as passing sticks to those assembling frames means less risk of possible injury. “There’s just less moving parts,” Rhys says.

6. Less waste

Another huge improvement associated with prefabricated frames is the reduced waste.

Sawdust from drop saws, offcuts or incorrectly measured noggins no longer land in a skip. It also means less clean-up for the crew. This is a better bottom line for builders and installers, but also for the environment.

“Minimum waste means it’s definitely better from the sustainability side of things,” Matthew says, adding: “When you’re doing a big build, that’s important.”

7. Reduced theft

An unexpected benefit from using prefabricated frames is a reduction in site theft. Simply put, the lack of spare sticks laying around means cheeky locals are less likely to help themselves to timber.

“LVLs (Laminated Veneer Lumber) beams are very expensive and you’re a lot less likely to get someone to come onsite to pull a frame apart and de-nail a beam versus just picking [a stick up] if it’s sitting on the ground in a packet,” Stefan says.

8. Easy to order

For Creation Homes, having Bunnings Trade work alongside them on all their frames and truss needs - supplying high-quality prefabricated roof trusses, wall frame and floor-truss systems for residential and commercial projects - has opened their eyes to new ways of working.

It’s a service geared towards helping builders and trades by reducing labour costs, streamlining installation, accelerating project completion and improving onsite safety, and Stefan says they aren’t looking back.

“At the beginning of a job we send through the shop drawings, steel drawings, engineering reports, and whatever else the Bunnings Trade team needs, then they send back a preliminary design for approval,” Stefan explains. “It’s a pretty quick process and the communication to ensure we’ve got everything accurate and as per our plans is very good.”

9. Fast delivery

After the designs and planning, the Bunnings frame and truss specialists organise delivery.

“I’m in contact with the scheduling team and if I have deliveries booked with our traffic management people for 8am, they will usually arrive right on time or within a 30-minute window, which is really impressive,” Stefan says.

“As long as we’ve got the right site access and have left [a location] to put the delivery, it’s here.”

And left in the correct order, Matthew adds.

“We stage the deliveries so we get the ground floors first, then the upper floors and then the trusses,” he says.

10. Using your Bunnings Trade PowerPass account

One of the other main benefits? Besides being a one-stop-shop and being able to easily manage your orders through your Bunnings PowerPass account, the quality in craftsmanship of the materials – with Bunnings’ Responsible Timber Sourcing Policy applied to all timber used in the frames and trusses – gives the service a huge advantage over others.

“We’ve used Bunnings Trade Frame and Truss for a long time and the quality has certainly impressed,” Matthew says.

“It’s straighter and it’s more accurate, and it’s just a better-quality frame, so when the boys install it and you see the finished product, you can just tell when you’ve got a quality prefab frame.”

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