Replies

1. 
   billyg | Apr 09, 2005 05:19am | #1

   Steel frame is great but you should pay attention to:

   - fire resistance

   - wood nailers -- you may have to add nailers for baseboard, crown, around all door and frames, etc.

   - high thermal conductivity compared to wood -- may get ghosting on your sheetrock if you don't do things right

   Others will add more.

   Billy

2. 
   Notchman | Apr 09, 2005 05:29am | #2

   There's a guy in my area doing it;  building steel framed specs in a small development.

   Talking to him and others here is a second hand view:

   Plusses are an open span building providing nearly unlimited interior layout;  the frames he is putting up meet local Seismic codes here (big factor).

   Con:  Since he is only doing about 5 a year, cost of the frame package is not discounted...same price as to a one-time DIYer.  (Some outfit in Texas).

   Another downside here (and not necessarily a problem elswhere) is that the structure is most efficiently erected on a slab....most of the homes built here on flat ground (what little there is of it) are usually built on a stemwall with wood floor framing over a crawlspace.

   The best upside for him is that he's starting to get a lot of small commercial work;  buildings for machine shops, an auto body shop, a couple of horse arenas, etc.  (commercial usually pays a little better than residential, at least around here).

   Once you're tooled up and get up the learning curve, steel is no big mystery and has some advantages....probably many that I'm unaware of.

1. 
   BLURAT | Apr 09, 2005 06:23am | #3

   Thanks for the fine input thus far! I would be looking at this just for myself (no business per se) and so far the ghosting is the biggest concern.  Shawn 

1. 
   alwaysoverbudget | Apr 09, 2005 07:41am | #4

   a guy a few blks away built one about 7 yrs ago. when it was going up i was fascinated and really impressed.it's all steel interior and exterior walls. now he says his utility bills are crazy. i don't know if its thermal bridging causing the problem or what. commercial metal bldgs are pretty reasonable to heat,but they usally have the insulation wrapped around metal before siding goes up. larryhand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.

3. 
   JohnT8 | Apr 09, 2005 07:44am | #5

   Hi Shawn, welcome to Breaktime.

   Steel frame can be combined with SIP's, which can offset the thermal disadvantages of steel and create a very energy efficient home.

    

   jt8

   Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. -- Ann Landers

4. 
   JeffBuck | Apr 09, 2005 08:15am | #6

   right now .... the Cost!

   check things out local for ya ...

    

   last big remodel I thot about using nonload bearling steel studs and my lumber yard guy said their steel manufacturer told them not to expect a shipment for a long time coming. Price is way up and most of it's going over see's.

    

   Jeff

     Buck Construction 

      Artistry in Carpentry

           Pgh, PA

1. 
   JohnT8 | Apr 09, 2005 08:24am | #7

   Maybe if we could go a few months without a major natural disaster anywhere in the world, the prices might come down.

   Lets see, the wood prices shot up after the hurricanes in FL.  The wood prices shot up after the Iraq war was 'won' (not a natural disaster in this case).   Concrete, wood, and steel went up after the tidal wave.  And so and and so on...

    jt8

   Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. -- Ann Landers

1. 
   JeffBuck | Apr 09, 2005 08:48am | #8

   blame China.

   they're growing too fast.

    

   if I sold steel .... I'd be selling it to the highest bidder too!

   Jeff  Buck Construction 

      Artistry in Carpentry

           Pgh, PA

1. 
   JohnT8 | Apr 10, 2005 02:03am | #9

   blame China.

   they're growing too fast.

    

   if I sold steel .... I'd be selling it to the highest bidder too!

   So does that mean the US Steel industry is finally having a good day? 

   I have never understood how it is cheaper to ship materials 5k miles, have the finished product made there and then ship the finished product back 5k miles... and it is still  cheaper than if I just made it across the street.

   I realize labor is darn near free over there, but sheeze, can't we put our heads together and figure a way to make anything here?

   jt8

   Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. -- Ann Landers

   Edited 4/9/2005 7:25 pm ET by JohnT8

1. 
   JeffBuck | Apr 10, 2005 02:34am | #11

   "So does that mean the US Steel industry is finally having a good day?" 

    

   You'd think, huh?

   Maybe Pittsburgh is on the rise again!

   Jeff  Buck Construction 

      Artistry in Carpentry

           Pgh, PA

2. 
   JohnT8 | Apr 10, 2005 02:39am | #12

   You'd think, huh?

   Maybe Pittsburgh is on the rise again!

   Wouldn't bother me.  Steelworkers are on the list of people I have a lot of respect for (farmers are also on the list).  One of those products that I think would be a mistake for us to allow our industry to die off.

    jt8

   Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. -- Ann Landers

3. 
   ruffmike | Apr 10, 2005 07:38am | #14

   Steel studs are produced locally here (Ca.) and the steel comes in on trains from the east, so I assume it is a domestic product.

   Out here we have been building alot of light gauge multi-story condo's. Barely any iron at all. Pretty interesting structures. They use alot of Sureboard- sheetrock with 22 gauge steel on the back, as sheathing. Nasty stuff, luckily I have only had to look at it! The steel roof trusses are pretty cool also.

    The steel houses here are going up everywhere, but I know little about them.

4. 
   BLURAT | Apr 10, 2005 08:01pm | #15

   Thanks for the feedback guys...Shawn

5. 
   billyg | Apr 11, 2005 03:30am | #16

   It's nice to have straight studs and track.  Plus you can carry a bundle of 10 or 20 twelve footers in one trip.  You can't do that with wood! 

   It's easy to move a stud if you're using self-drill screws.  Just be sure the plumbers and electricians aren't moving them when you're not watching!

   Billy 

6. 
   JohnT8 | Apr 11, 2005 05:49am | #17

   Shawn, if you're thinking of using SIPs with the steel frame, try the following website:

   http://www.sipweb.com

   Lots of good information to be had there, both in the form of articles and the forum.  They also have a section on Steel and one on ICF's.

   jt8

   Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. -- Ann Landers

   Edited 4/10/2005 10:51 pm ET by JohnT8

7. 
   BLURAT | Apr 11, 2005 09:23am | #18

   Thanks Mucho!!!

5. 
   Nailbag | Apr 10, 2005 02:33am | #10

   I did a small job recently and framed a steel partition wall... I remember the electrician being a bit bummed.  He didn't have the wire protector's for the keyholes so he ran armored cable.  My point is, you mught check with the subtrades to be sure their work won't cost alot more. (I've never drilled a steel track for a 3" DWV but I'll bet it's a pain in the a**.)

    

6. 
   mccarty12 | Apr 10, 2005 02:49am | #13

   I researched Steel Framing about a year ago and didn`t come away impressed with the service in the industry. I called the North American Steel Framing Alliance to get some training and left two messages with the cordinator and didn`t hear anything from them. It was hard to find a supplier for a custom job. It seems like people are trying to sell kits.

   The economies of China and India are booming and they are buying up all the steel. The cost of steel rose 80% last year. In December a 10 foot structural steel 2x4 cost $10 if my memory serves me. So it is an expensive alternative to wood.

   But I think I`m going to try it on a small project. The steel mills are gearing up and I think the price will come down.

   There is a meeting for the metal indusrty in Chicago early Oct. that hosts what they call Stud University that will teach you everything you need to know in a few days for $1500.00. Try metalcon.com .