Steel Pool Roof Structures | Hawthorne Case Study
On this project in Hawthorne, inner Brisbane, Network Steel fabricated a curved steel skeleton to support a copper clad roof over a pool house and BBQ area. A roof over a pool needs to span the full space without columns getting in the way of the water or the deck, which is why pool roof structures are almost always built from structural steel. The steel does double duty here: it carries the roof and it is the architectural feature, with a cold-rolled ribcage and elliptical beams forming the centrepiece.
What steel is used to build a curved pool roof structure?
This roof was built from a combination of steel members, each doing a specific job. The frame used U-Beams, PFC beams, cold formed purlins and SHS members. The curved shape of the roof came from larger RHS sections cold rolled to form the ribcage of the structure. The focal point was created from smaller PFC beams rolled to elliptical shapes. Getting a curve like this right is a fabrication job, not just a supply job. The sections have to be rolled accurately so the finished skeleton reads as a clean, deliberate architectural line rather than a series of straight approximations.
How do you get structural steel into a tight residential site?
Access was the major challenge on this build. The pool house sat tucked away behind existing homes, with no clear path for the crane and rigging teams to reach it. The builder solved it by raising and propping an existing house to open up clear access underneath, which let the cranage and rigging teams get the steel in and set.
Project at a glance
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Project | Pool house and BBQ area roof structure |
| Location | Hawthorne, Brisbane, QLD |
| Structure | Steel skeleton supporting a copper clad roof |
| Frame members | U-Beams, PFC beams, cold formed purlins, SHS |
| Curved ribcage | Larger RHS sections, cold rolled |
| Focal point | Smaller PFC beams rolled to elliptical shapes |
| Site access solution | Existing house raised and propped for crane and rigging access beneath |
FAQ
What structural steel is used for a pool roof?
A pool roof structure typically combines several steel members: beams to carry the main load, purlins to support the roof cladding, and hollow sections for columns and framing. The Hawthorne roof used U-Beams, PFC beams, cold formed purlins, SHS and cold-rolled RHS.
Can a steel pool roof be curved?
Yes. Curves are achieved by cold rolling steel sections to the required radius. On the Hawthorne project, larger RHS sections were cold rolled to form the ribcage of the curved roof, and smaller PFC beams were rolled to elliptical shapes for the focal point.
Why use structural steel for a pool roof instead of timber?
Steel spans further with less material, which lets you cover a pool and deck without intermediate columns interrupting the space. It also holds a rolled curve accurately, so it works as both the structure and the architectural feature.
How is steel craned into a tight residential block?
Access is planned before fabrication. On sites with no clear path, the approach can include propping or lifting existing structures to open up crane access, as the builder did on this project.
Does Network Steel supply structural steel in Brisbane?
Yes. Network Steel services inner Brisbane, including Hawthorne and surrounding suburbs. For more details on our Morningside location, please click here.
Planning a pool roof or an architectural steel structure? Speak to our team, or get a quote online.
