[Image: Steel framing with screws]Light gauge steel framing promises many short-term and long-term benefits to homeowners. Although widely used in commercial construction, steel framing is not as common in South Louisiana’s residential construction market as wood framing. Yet, it should be considered in rebuilding as many of the strengths of steel framing are well-suited to the climate and threats of Louisiana’s coastal regions.
Manufacturers produce metal studs out of sheets of light gauge galvanized steel cold rolled through a machine and bent to a C-shaped profile that is approximately the size of wooden 2x4s, or 2x6s. These steel studs are then screwed together to form the frame of the house on top of which sheathing, siding, and gypsum board can be applied. Steel framed houses can be built stick-by-stick on-site, or portions of the project such as wall panels or modules can be pre-fabricated off-site in a controlled environment, shipped by truck, and then adjoined on-site. This is a faster method of on-site framing that offers savings in the cost of labor.
Some advantages of steel construction include consistency in size, strength, and straightness of the metal studs. Additionally, metal is fire-resistant and inorganic making it free of rot, warping, and termites. In addition to the benefits of building out of this strong lightweight system, steel framing produces less waste on-site than wood framing. The metal framing industry is quick to point out the environmental virtues of building out of its 100% recyclable material. Furthermore, while wood studs are nailed together when framing, metal studs have to be screwed together. Screwing instead of nailing the studs makes for a stronger connection and, with the proper clips and joist hangers installed, the building will be able to withstand high wind conditions.
Before you decide to build out of metal, however, it is important to understand the disadvantages of the system in our current building market. Wood construction has long been the standard method of framing a house and, as a result, most residential builders only work with wood. Light gauged metal and the sheathing that goes on it must be screwed together. This can be labor intensive and, without the proper tools, assembly time and the price of fasteners go up. Also, there are certain materials, such as pressure treated wood, tha[Image: steel frame against sky]t cannot come in direct contact with the galvanized metal studs. Some metals cannot come into contact with others or they will corrode, therefore, care must be taken to detail the metal framed building in a way to insure that the materials will last. Although metal is slowly gaining popularity among builders and homeowners, it may be difficult to find a contractor or crew of workers that are experienced, willing, and equipped with the right tools to build a metal house.
Additionally, the cost of materials is higher in a metal framed house as compared to its wood counterpart. Metal framing companies will claim a comparable cost due to the savings in man-hours required to construct a metal house; however, even with the cost of labor factored in, in today’s market the cost of a typical residential metal framing package exceeds that of a wood framing package. Beyond just framing crews and their familiarity with the system, you may also incur higher costs for subcontractors who are not accustomed nor equipped to wire or run plumbing through metal studs. The higher cost of metal framing even carries over into interior finishes where, for example, thicker gypsum board will be required to span between the metal studs spaced 24 inches apart (compared to the 16-inch wooden stud spacing).
Finally, there is the possibility that a steel framed house will be less energy efficient than its wood counterpart. This is due to the heat gain and heat loss of steel studs which conduct heat faster than wood. There are ways, however, to make the frame less conductive through the materials you use, such as rigid insulation, and in the way you construct the exterior walls.
If you are considering rebuilding with metal framing understand that it has advantages both short- and long-term. Metal framing can be a viable, climate and storm responsive way to rebuild, but you will likely be faced with some frustrations and higher costs in the process.