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Steel is used in all the world’s tallest and largest buildings … so why not use it in the frame of your new home? Facing problems - such as fluctuating lumber costs, mold issues, and termites - more builders are turning to steel. According to statistics from the Steel Framing Alliance, in 1997 there were 14,581 homes with steel framing used in the walls and by 2001 the number had more than doubled to 32,648 homes. Looking at the outside (or inside) of a finished home, there really is no way to tell if it is a steel home. The steel framing members are hidden under sheathing and drywall just like wood joists and studs. You can still hang a picture in a steel house by screwing into the steel stud – the added bonus is that you can find a stud with a magnet. There are advantages to using steel in residential construction. Steel framed homes tend to resist pests and molds. However, any of the components in the steel home that are wood can still become infested such as sheathing or trim. Another advantage is found in the stability in the price of steel. Wood prices can fluctuate quickly and wildly – changing even while a house is under construction – whereas steel prices have traditionally remained more consistent. Additionally, there is less waste in the construction of a steel home because parts can be ordered to size. Statistics show that a steel home averages about 2% waste, while the typical wood framed home averages 20%. |
Monthly New Home Starts Continue to Hammer Away at Records Savvy Buyers are Changing Channels Small Houses That Require Big Imaginations Material World: Steel Framing Agent of My Success - KC Chermak
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Dennis
Walsh & Associates, Inc. Website
Design, Graphics, Product Logos and Product Interfaces |