Facts and FAQ's About Steel Framed Homes

Residential steel framing members are cost effective, light weight, easy to handle, and manufactured under strict quality control guidelines. Steel framing is also termite proof and non combustible.

Steel-framing advantages

Strength
Steel offers the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any residential building material, which means builders use less product to frame a stronger home. A stronger material also offers greater design flexibility, making it possible to design floorplans with large open spaces.

Durabilty
Galvanized steel will not crack, shrink, splinter, creep, split, warp, swell, or rot. It is also impervious to termites and wood destroying insects.

Safety
High winds, fire, lightning. While choosing steel framing can't eliminate these natural occurrences, steel's strength and non-combustible properties offer greater protection for your home....and your family.

Recyclability
Recycled and recyclable, steel is the environmentally-friendly residential framing choice. When you compare that it takes 40-50 mature trees and only six scrapped cars to frame a 2,000-square-foot home, you can quickly appreciate the value of steel today... and its impact on future generations.

Energy-Efficiency
Since steel-framed walls are unaffected by temperature or humidity changes, more if your heating and air conditioning dollars remain inside your home, keeping money spent on utility bills in your wallet.

Value
The price of steel is more stable than the price of wood. Because steel won't rot or deteriorate like wood, your investment will retain its value for years to come.

Will my home look different than the rest in my development?

No. In fact, because of steel's strength you can design your home with larger open spaces. With a steel frame, the walls will remain straight and true and can be finished with the same materials traditionally used.

What about the environmental impact of steel construction?

The overall recycling rate of the steel industry is 66%, the highest of any industry on the country, offering an environmentally sound home framing alternative. Steel framing scrap is a valuable commodity that should not end up in a landfill.

What about cost?

The price of steel has been relatively constant over the last decade. While the price of traditional framing materials has been erratic and growing at a rate much faster than inflation, steel prices have only experienced small quarterly adjustments. Builders interviewed nationwide have affirmed that framing with steel is commonly less expensive that traditional framing.

Can my home be energy efficient?

Yes. Steel framing can be designed to meet or exceed governmental energy efficiency standards. In addition, by staying straight and true, the steel framing helps prevent cracks due to shrinking or warping, thus preventing air leaks that result in costly loss of energy.

Will the steel frame interfere with portable radios, phones, or TV reception?

No. Waves pass through the space between studs, allowing the use of all the radios, phones, and television sets in your home.

What about lighting?

The steel frame offers the home occupants better protection than any other construction system. Scientists recommend seeking shelter in steel fame structures during lighting storms, because the steel frame provides a path to the ground reducing the likelihood of explosions, secondary fires, or personal injury.

Will my home rust?

The use of galvanized steel frame components protects your home against rust.

Can my home be built to resist earthquakes and hurricanes?

Yes. Positive connections and the strength of steel provide great protection against earthquakes and hurricanes. Steel's high strength and ductility make it the best construction material for earthquake resistant design.

 
Will steel framing affect the indoor air quality?

No. Steel framing is recommended by The Healthy House Institute for chemically sensitive and environmentally conscious home owners who seek good indoor air quality. Steel frames do not need to be treated for termites and are free of resin adhesives and chemicals normally present in other construction materials.

Will I be able to remodel my home?

Yes, since steel framing allows for larger spans, a home can be designed without interior load-bearing partitions, making it easier for homeowners to complete alterations without affecting the structure.

How do I hang pictures in a steel framed home?

As in a traditional home, depending on the weight of the picture, you can hang it from the drywall with toggle bolts or hangers. Heavier objects can be hung from screws attached directly into the studs, which can easily be found with a magnet.

Will I have to pay higher insurance premiums for my homeowner's insurance?

No. As a matter of fact, because of steel's excellent performance record in earthquakes, and because it is not affected by termites and is non-combustible, home owners may be able to save on insurance premiums.

Will I be able to sell my home?

Your home does not need to look any different than your neighbor's and should sell just as easily. Because of steel's high strength and durability your home should last and retain its value for a long time. In fact, if you take advantage of steel's strength and flexibility by designing wide open spaces, you will have additional selling features.