Frame and Truss: Here’s what’s behind the brick
Let’s clear up the chatter
Everyone’s got an opinion on how to build a home. Your mate. Your uncle. A stranger in a Bunnings queue.
If you’ve grown up in WA, double brick is probably what you picture for your first home. It’s what many of us know. But across Australia, a timber frame behind a brick finish is the most common way to build, which is where “frame and truss” comes in.
So here’s a friendly, plain-English look at what it actually is, and what makes it a great option for a first home.
Let’s take a look behind the brick.
The short version
Brick outside, timber frame inside.
An engineered timber frame, built to Australian building standards, sits behind a single layer of brick. Inside, the walls are lined with plasterboard and painted.
It’s one of two ways we build, and you’re welcome to choose either. We’re just here to help you find the one that feels right.
Very similar from the street
Here’s the fun bit. From the outside, a frame and truss home is very similar to a double brick one. It’s the same brick finish. You might spot small differences, like garage ceiling heights, eaves and windowsill heights, but the real difference is on the inside.
What’s going on inside the walls
Room for insulation. With the right wall insulation and reflective barriers, frame and truss homes can be wonderfully comfortable year-round, and may even help with energy bills (depending on how you live, of course).
A quiet, calm home. Insulation batts in the external walls help keep noise down, comparable to double brick.
Room to grow. The strength comes from an engineered timber frame, so fewer internal walls are needed to hold things up. That means more freedom in how you use the space, now and down the track.
Made for everyday life
Once you’ve moved in, it’s the little things that count.
- Pictures: adhesive strips are great for small frames, and plasterboard anchors suit heavier artwork.
- The big TV: for heavier pieces like a TV, fix them to the structural timber in the walls.
- Termites: treated timber and extra termite management are built in from the start, same as our double brick homes.
- Fire safety: all homes meet strict fire safety standards, with extra design measures in bushfire-prone areas.
- Built to last: with proper maintenance, a frame and truss home will stand the test of time, just like double brick.
A lighter footprint
Building with a timber frame means fewer heavy materials and less waste on site, and it’s easier to insulate too. Put it together and it could mean a lighter footprint on the planet, and a bit more efficiency in how your home runs day to day.
The same promises, either way
Whichever way you build, every Homebuyers Centre home comes with fixed upfront pricing and a 25-year structural guarantee. Since 1991, we’ve helped more than 30,000 people into their first home.
Still weighing it up?
There’s no wrong answer here, only the one that suits your design, your block and how you want to live. Your New Homes Consultant can walk you through both options, along with finance and land, all in the one place.