Guides
Steel guides & how-tos.
Straight-up answers to the questions we get on the phone every day — patio sizing, painted vs galv, how to measure a gate, what to send your fabricator.
DIY guide
What Size SHS or RHS Do I Need for a Patio Frame?
For a typical 4×3m patio with a Colorbond roof, 75×75×4mm SHS posts and 100×50×4mm RHS beams is a common starting point. Here's how spans, posts and beams stack up.
Read article
Materials guide
Painted vs galvanised steel — which one do you need?
Indoor or short-life jobs — painted. Outdoor, exposed or coastal — galvanised. Here's the full comparison so you spend on the right finish.
Read article
How-to
How to measure for a steel gate frame
Measure the opening at top, middle and bottom — use the smallest. Then deduct hinge and latch clearance. Here's the full method.
Read article
Materials guide
What's the difference between SHS, RHS and CHS?
SHS is square, RHS is rectangular, CHS is round (pipe). Here's what each one does best and how to choose between them.
Read article
Trade guide
Cut-to-length vs standard lengths — when is each worth it?
Standard 6.0m and 7.5m lengths are cheaper per metre. Cut-to-length costs a small cutting fee but cuts your waste and your truck runs. Here's the break-even.
Read article
How-to
Custom steel fabrication on the Gold Coast — what to send your fabricator
A sketch with dimensions, a photo of the site, a deadline, and whether you need a crane. That's it. Here's how to put it together.
Read article
Materials guide
Galvanised pipe vs black pipe — what's the difference?
Galvanised for anything outdoor or wet. Black for indoor structural or where you'll weld it. Here's the full comparison.
Read article
Materials guide
Reo mesh sizes explained — SL62, SL72, SL82, SL92, F62 and what they mean
The 'SL' is square layout, the 'F' is rectangular layout. The number tells you the bar size and spacing. Here's how to read the codes — and what each mesh is for.
Read article