Steel framing was originally developed for use along the coastlines of the U.S., where hurricanes, earthquakes, humidity and insects wreak havoc on wood homes - but homeowners in the Midwest can enjoy the advantages as well.
How it works
Steel homes use steel studs for walls and roof trusses instead of traditional wood studs. Steel framing contractors use computers to design the framing to meet with local building codes.
If you have architect plans for a wood-framed house, they can create a computer-generated drawing for a steel home, along with a list of parts needed to replace the lumber.
The factory-engineered framing pieces - predrilled for plumbing and wiring - arrive at the building site numbered and color-coded. From there, it's like building a home with a giant Erector set!
Energy savings
Steel framing can be designed to meet or exceed energy efficiency standards. By using a 2x6 steel stud, the insulating value is R-36 - almost double the R-19 of traditional wood construction.
In addition, by staying straight and true, the steel framing helps prevent cracks due to shrinking or warping, meaning fewer air leaks that waste energy.
Other benefits
A steel-framed home can withstand winds up to 180 miles an hour, and is virtually termite-proof.
In addition, the strength of steel allows you to design your home with larger open spaces - the walls will remain straight and true. Any typical finishing material can be used indoors or out, including drywall, plaster, siding, brick or stucco.
Steel is also a good choice for the environment. Steel is 100 percent recyclable - most of the studs are created with recycled steel, and any construction leftovers are recycled instead of taken to the landfill.
Costs
Construction costs for a steel-framed home are typical about one to two percent more than wood framing,
The cost of steel framing has been relatively constant over the last decade. While the price of traditional framing materials has been erratic and growing at a much faster rate than inflation, steel prices have been much more stable. |
