Do Steel Frame Houses Creak?
Reading Time: 7 minutes and 9 seconds
When people think about building with steel, they often imagine strength, precision, and longevity. But there’s one lingering question that keeps popping up: do steel frame houses creak?
At Tag Steel, we’ve worked with countless builders and homeowners across South East Queensland. And we’ve heard this concern more than once. So we decided to dig into the facts, the science, and—importantly—the real experiences of homeowners living in steel frame homes.
Let’s unpack what’s myth, what’s true, and what it all means for your next build.
Adam Toth
Table of Contents
Why the concern?
Expectations vs. Experience
Creaking sounds in homes aren’t uncommon. Most people have lived in or visited a house where the walls groan, the ceiling pops, or a floorboard lets out an unexpected crack. But does that mean your steel frame is to blame?
In short: not necessarily. And in most cases—not at all.
Let’s look at what really causes these sounds.
Steel Frame Noise: What the Forums Say
Insights from Real Australian Homeowners
HomeOne Forum – “Very Noisy Steel Frame House”
One of the most active threads was titled “Very Noisy Steel Frame House”—it was started by a homeowner frustrated by repeated creaking and cracking sounds, particularly at night or during temperature changes.
As more users added their stories, a few common themes stood out:
- The noise complaints were almost always linked to double-storey homes
- In most cases, the creaking was traced to flexing upper floors, not wall frames
- A few users even brought in engineers to investigate—and the frame itself wasn’t at fault
- Several users pointed out that a lack of bracing or acoustic insulation seemed to be the root cause
The consensus? The problem wasn’t the steel—it was poor detailing and construction shortcuts.
Whirlpool Forum – “Steel Frame House – Are They Noisy?”
Over on Whirlpool, the conversation was far more reassuring. The thread titled “Steel Frame House – Are They Noisy?” included input from homeowners living in steel homes for over 20 years.
Here’s what they had to say:
- Most respondents reported no creaking at all, even during heatwaves or cold snaps
- Those who did hear something described it as a soft, brief “tick” or “tink”, usually around dawn or dusk—typical of thermal expansion
- Interestingly, the roof sheeting (especially Colorbond) came up more often than the frame as a source of noise
- Homes built with Rockwool batts or foilboard insulation were consistently described as “quiet and solid”
- Several homeowners compared their steel frames to past timber builds—and said their steel homes were noticeably quieter over time
So… Do Steel Frame Houses Actually Creak?
Let’s tackle the core question directly:
No—steel frame homes don’t inherently creak.
But like any build, certain conditions can create movement-related sounds. Here’s what we’ve seen on the ground:
Thermal Expansion Is Real—But Harmless
Steel does expand and contract with temperature changes. You might hear a soft “tick” in the early morning as the metal warms with the sun. But it’s short-lived, subtle, and doesn’t impact the structure.
Thermal expansion rate: around 11–13 µm/m/°C
The thermal expansion rate is around 2–3mm over a 10-metre span with a 20°C change—hardly enough to cause structural noise unless other elements are poorly detailed.
Builder Tip:
Installing acoustic insulation near the roofline can absorb or muffle these minor temperature-related sounds completely.
Creaking Is Almost Always a Bracing or Flooring Issue
From what we’ve seen at Tag Steel House Frames, persistent creaking in a steel home typically points to poor upper-floor bracing—especially in double-storey builds. If a builder skimps on bracing or uses undersized joists, the floor flexes slightly under load. That movement can create creaking—not from the steel, but from the floor assembly itself.
Insulation Changes Everything
More than half the homeowners we analysed who experienced noise said it disappeared after installing or upgrading their insulation. Insulation reduces vibration and dampens sound transmission across the frame and internal walls. If you’re wondering how steel wall frames compare to timber when it comes to keeping things quiet inside, we break that down in detail in this guide on steel wall frame soundproofing.
What Works:
- Rockwool batts – Dense, fire-rated, and great for acoustic performance
- Foilboard – Reflects both heat and sound
- Fibreglass ceiling batts – Excellent in roof cavities
What About Timber Homes? Let’s Compare
Timber homes creak too—often more so than steel. Timber absorbs moisture. It swells in humidity, shrinks in dry weather, and shifts with the seasons. Those changes create movement, and movement creates sound.
Steel? It stays straight and dry. No twisting, no swelling, no squeaky nails loosening over time.
| Feature | Timber Frame | Steel Frame |
| Moisture movement | Swells & shrinks | Moisture-resistant and dimensionally stable |
| Warping over time | Common | Rare |
| Sound during humidity changes | Very common | Minimal |
| Acoustic performance (with insulation) | Variable | Excellent with insulation |
So while timber may feel familiar, it doesn’t always deliver a quieter experience—especially over time.
Real Talk: What We See in the Field
At Tag Steel House Frames, we’ve supplied steel frames for projects across Brisbane, Ipswich, the Gold Coast, and surrounding areas—from single-storey homes to two-level duplexes.
Here’s what we’ve consistently observed:
- Homes with engineered frames, acoustic insulation, and correct bracing are virtually silent
- The rare complaints we’ve received? They’ve turned out to be flooring issues or roof sheet movement—not the frame
- Builders who work with us often comment on how well our frames hold their line, stay straight, and stay quiet
When Creaking Does Happen—What To Check First
Even if your client mentions a creak or crack, it doesn’t mean you’ve got a framing issue. Here’s what to check:
Bracing & Flooring
Upstairs creaking? Look at your floor joists and shear wall bracing. Underspec’d joists and lack of nogging or bridging are common culprits.
Insulation Quality
Was the insulation installed throughout? Gaps in roof or wall insulation can let sound travel—and amplify even minor thermal movement.
Roofing & Cladding
Metal roofs and external flashing expand and contract just like steel framing—but without insulation, their movement is louder. This is often the source of what sounds like “frame noise”.
Builder Technique
Fasteners, floor glues, and fixing methods all play a role. A perfectly designed frame can still creak if installation cuts corners.
Final Verdict: Don’t Blame the Steel
Creaking in homes isn’t a steel issue. It’s a construction detail issue.
Steel, by its nature, is dimensionally stable. It doesn’t swell in humidity, it doesn’t twist over time, and it doesn’t shift with every change in temperature like timber can. If creaking occurs in a steel frame home, it’s almost always due to something else—usually poor planning, cheap materials, or corners being cut during the build.
At Tag Steel House Frames, we’ve worked alongside enough builders to know the difference between a sound frame and a sound home. And here’s the truth:
When a steel home is designed properly, insulated thoroughly, and built to spec, it stays quiet. Period.
What To Do When You Hear Noise
Before pointing fingers at the frame, it’s worth digging into the details that actually influence how quiet—or noisy—a home feels. From what we’ve seen, creaking in steel frame homes usually comes down to one of three things: flooring design, insulation gaps, or missed allowances for thermal movement.
If your client raises concerns about noise, take a closer look at:
- Floor system bracing
- Wall and ceiling insulation
- Roof sheeting installation and thermal detailing
We’ve laid it all out in the infographic below.
When all of these elements work together—steel, insulation, fixings, and framing design—you get more than just structural performance.
You get a home that stays solid, silent, and stress-free for years to come.
FAQ
Not if the home’s insulated properly.
If you skip insulation, yes—you might get a bit of echo. But when you install Rockwool, foilboard, or good acoustic batts, that sound gets absorbed before it goes anywhere. With the right setup, you won’t notice any difference—and in many cases, steel homes are actually quieter inside than timber ones.
Nope—just the right know-how.
Most builders already have what they need to install a steel frame. The trick is understanding how steel goes together—it’s about precision and proper bracing, not heavy machinery. If you’re working with a supplier like Tag Steel Frames, we set you up with frames that fit right the first time.
All our frames are made with galvanised steel designed to handle the Aussie climate. As long as it’s installed properly and kept dry during the build, rust isn’t something you’ll need to worry about—even if you’re building near the coast or in humid areas.
Building in SEQ? Let’s Talk Steel That Works as Hard as You Do
If you’re building homes across South East Queensland and want framing that goes up fast, stays straight, and doesn’t cause call-backs, we’d love to be part of your process.
At Tag Steel House Frames, we’re not a big-box supplier—we’re a team of tradespeople who understand what you face on site. We design for the real world. We deliver what we promise. And we back every frame with insight drawn from decades in the field.
