North American construction market. Today it remains
one of the strongest, most durable and economically
manufactured materials. While it has typically been
associated with skyscrapers and bridges, steel is
emerging as the material of choice for residential
framing. Across Canada and the United States, builders,
developers and homeowners are finding out about the
many benefits that steel has to offer in the residential
marketplace.
Although the name "steel" may conjure up images of a
heavy or cumbersome material, the coated steel
products used in residential framing are just the
opposite. Cold formed sheet steel is a light weight, easy
to handle, economical and high quality alternative to
traditional wood framing materials. Among its other
advantages, steel offers the builder a strong,
dimensionally stable, easy to work with framing system.
Residential steel framing members were originally
designed as a substitute for wood framing. However,
they are now being manufactured in systems which
reflect the superior strength and consistency of steel.
The variety of available steel shapes, strengths and sizes
has expanded beyond that of standard lumber, and this
versatility offers the advantage of savings in both material
cost and time while delivering a consistently high quality
product.
Environmental and economic concerns have prompted
the building industry to research alternative building
materials and methods. This, in addition to its
construction benefits and excellent recycling capabilities,
is making steel framing a growing choice for residential
construction. This follows the long time use of steel
framing in commercial construction where steel has
proven quality and performance records.
WHY USE STEEL FRAMING?
The reasons why home builders are turning to steel framing
members as replacements for wood are as varied as the homes
they build. Here are some of the most significant benefits for
both user groups, the builder and the homeowner, that give
steel an edge over the competition.
Builder Benefits:
• Steel will not rot, shrink, swell, split, or warp and is
non–combustible.
• Every steel stud is a good stud. There is no longer the
need to sort through lifts of framing members to select
suitable pieces. Steel framing is of consistent quality.
• Steel framing can be supplied to the exact lengths required
thus eliminating much of the on–site cutting and most of
the waste.
• Steel framing is a proven technology that is user friendly
allowing for a smooth transition from other materials.
• Steel framing members are available in a variety of standard
shapes and sizes in varying steel thicknesses to
accommodate any structural requirements.
• Steel members weigh as much as 60% less than wood
members; therefore, foundation and seismic loads can be
reduced.
• Steel framing members are manufactured with pre–punched
holes for running piping and electrical wiring, minimizing
preparation work for other trades.
• Steel framing accommodates all types of commonly used
finishing materials.
• The inherent strength of steel can be utilized to reduce the
number of framing members required. It is not necessary to
replace steel for wood stick–for–stick.
• Steel is competitively priced and consistent in quality. Steel
prices are more stable than wood and steel supplies have
historically been more readily available.
• Steel framing does not dry out and shrink over time, thus the
costly call backs to repair warped walls, nail–pops and
squeaking floors are eliminated.
• Building waste and pilferage from the construction site is
greatly reduced.
• Steel members can easily be prefabricated at the
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construction site, at a central assembly point near the site
or can be assembled in panels at a factory. Steel gives a
flexible response to nearly every home builder requirement.
• No heavy equipment is necessary when light gauge steel
framing is used.
WHY USE STEEL FRAMING?
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• Workers can be easily trained to work with steel framing
elements. Assembly details are easy for workers to quickly
pick up.
• Steel framing has been used for decades in commercial and
condominium construction. It is a tried and well proven
technology now available to home builders as an alternative
to wood framing.
• Job–site scrap has resale value.
Homeowner Benefits:
• Steel's inherent strength and non–combustible qualities
enable a steel framed house to resist such devastating
events as fires, earthquakes, and hurricanes. Homes can be
designed to meet the highest seismic and wind load
specifications in any part of the country.
• Because of its strength, steel can span greater distances
offering larger open spaces and increased design flexibility
without requiring intermediate columns or loadbearing walls.
• Remodeling can be easily accomplished. Non– loadbearing
walls can easily be removed, altered and relocated.
• Steel framing does not need to be treated for termites. It is
free of resin adhesives and other chemicals used to treat
wood framing products.
• Steel framing can be used for every home style from
traditional to contemporary to ultra–modern and from low
cost to luxury. Steel framed homes can be found in every
climate.
Environmental Benefits:• All steel products are 100% recyclable. The overall
recycling rate of steel products in North America is 66%;
the highest rate of any material.
• Steel products can be recycled repeatedly without
degradation or loss of properties.
• The steel industry is the single largest recycler in North
America because recycled steel is an integral ingredient in
steel production.
• During the last decade, more than 1 trillion pounds of steel
scrap have been recycled, keeping a valuable commodity
out of the country's landfill sites.
• Magnetic separation makes steel the easiest and most
economical material to remove from the solid waste
stream.
• The amount of energy needed to produce a ton of steel has
been reduced by 34% since 1972 and continues to
decrease.
