Material costs are the most significant factor in building costs. A homeowner lives with that choice long after the thrill of choosing an outdoor structure (like a pergola) fades. The Australian great outdoors is unforgiving, with extreme UV, salt-laden rain, and an unrelenting coastal environment. It’s very important to choose a material that is durable and will hold up well under these conditions, with little or no maintenance.
Steel has been used for industrial applications over the recent decades, but in modern residential and commercial construction, excellent fabrication is being carried out. In particular, steel products produced by BlueScope Steel have become well known for their design to meet the specific demands of the Australian climate. Knowing all about this material is a must if you are looking for construction options for your new pergola or outdoor roofing.
What Makes Steel a Popular Pergola Material Now
Steel offers a range of practical and aesthetic benefits that complement current Australian home design and construction processes.
Strength, clean lines, termite-proof, for modern Aussie yards and tight spots.
There are a few key reasons why steel is an appealing material for a pergola:
- Strong and Stable: Steel provides a higher strength-to-weight ratio than wood, enabling us to design clear-span structures that require less framing material and thereby reduce overall construction costs. This makes for a building that feels airy and not visually heavy.
- Sharp Lines: Sleek, straight lines and sharp corners are achievable with steel, which blends beautifully with the modern, minimalist architectural trends seen in much of new Australian housing.
- No Termite Threat: Steel frames cannot be damaged by termites, which is a significant hassle you can avoid, even in hot environments.
Steel is robust and can be made in very thin profiles. This makes steel an excellent material for pergolas in small inner-city yards or narrow side-return spaces often found on urban homes.
Durability in Australian Conditions
BlueScope differentiates itself through proprietary coating technology that serves the unique needs of buildings in Australia’s extreme conditions. Regular steel, when not coated with zinc or another corrosion-resistant coating such as stainless steel, will rust and corrode. This combination provides:
- Anti-rust Coating: The metal coating makes the shelf resistant to rust, even if it comes into contact with high humidity or salty air in a coastal environment.
- UV Protection: Our paint system is engineered not to peel, chip, or fade under the rigorous conditions of long-term UV exposure, protecting your investment for decades.
- Weather Resistant: Material can withstand harsh temperatures without cracking or warping (vital for Australia’s sweltering summers).
Why This Matters Specifically for Pergolas
Pergolas, unlike sections of the main house roof, are often partially exposed and are directly subject to constant, varying weather attacks, making material stability a high priority.
Pergolas take constant UV and weather exposure, and steel frames provide stability, reducing warping/rot/maintenance compared to some timber builds.
A pergola frame is frequently exposed to direct sunlight and often collects condensation or moisture, making it highly vulnerable to degradation.
- Dimensional Stability: Unlike some timbers, steel does not warp, twist, or shrink significantly with changes in temperature or moisture content. This structural stability is essential for maintaining a level, safe structure over the long term.
- Maintenance Reduction: The pre-finished nature of coated steel means homeowners avoid the frequent sanding, sealing, and repainting required by many timber structures to prevent rot or insect damage. The protective coatings effectively seal the material, drastically reducing ongoing maintenance burden and costs.
Design Flexibility With Steel Pergola Kits
Steel’s structural properties allow architects and do-it-yourselfers to be more creative with their designs.
It features slim profiles, longer spans, flatter or skillion roof designs, and gutters and lighting.
The inherent qualities of steel allow fewer vertical posts or intermediate supports to be used for a given surface. This allows for:
- Span: Steel members can span longer distances than timber, therefore allowing more column-free space under the pergola.
- Skinny Profiles: The beams and posts are narrower, which gives them a lighter weight and a less-clunky look that many modern spaces desire.
- Roof Lines: Steel framing systems can handle intricate or simple roof forms, such as flat, skillion (single-pitch), and cantilevered.
- Ease of Integration: Steel is easy to drill into, so whether you want to incorporate modern touches such as concealed wiring for lighting or fans, or need it fitted perfectly into existing gutter and downpipe systems outside, steel makes integration a walk in the park.
Sustainability & Local Manufacturing Benefits
Selecting BlueScope Steel also brings you the benefits of local Australian manufacturing and recycling our steel.
Steel is recyclable, and BlueScope Steel has manufacturing operations in Australia to support local supply chains, a consideration for homeowners choosing long-term, durable materials.
- Recycling capability: Steel is among the most recycled materials in the world. At the end of a very long life, the steel in a pergola can be easily re-forged and reused – no rubble going off to landfill.
- Local Sourcing: Supports local steel manufacturing, enabling a much shorter, more reliable supply chain. For the end user, this typically means products are designed to perform in Australian conditions and to meet Australian standards, and that parts are easier to source should they be required. A product with home-grown credentials offers an environmentally conscious choice for many homeowners who are mindful of sustainable practices and of supporting local industry.
The material used for a pergola or outdoor roof structure is of utmost importance for longevity and appearance. Although wood is a timeless option, BlueScope steel provides all of the undeniable benefits in terms of longevity, structural integrity and low maintenance that is so crucial here in Australia”.
With excellent anti-corrosion, UV resistance, and pest-prevention performance, homeowners enjoy decades of use from their Steel Sheds with little to no maintenance, so the building continues to feel safe and look great.