steel frame construction

Some builders are starting to use steel in residential framing, mimicking what’s already common in commercial building. Just take into account the benefits and disadvantages of steel frame construction.

Steel frame construction Basics

The dimensions of the steel studs are similar to the standard sizes of wood framing elements, and the techniques are basically alike (see: Wood frame Construction).

Instead of nails, steel frame construction uses screws to connect the studs and to attach sheathing, insulation and drywall to the studs, which has some costs, since it slows the construction.

To prevent rust, studs are coated with zinc...

Advantages of steel frame Construction

Unlike wood, steel is termite, fire and seism resistant, which gives to steel construction an huge advantage. Environmentally, since steel studs can contain recycled content and do not involve cutting down trees, that can be advantages.

Steel also provides new design possibilities by allowing ceiling joists to span longer than wooden joists: another important advantage.

Steel studs also weighs much less than wood (it can be rather unexpected at first view, but it can weigh 40%-50% less) and are stronger than timber studs, and also more varied in size and consistent in quality.

Besides, steel framing employs the same basic techniques used in wood-framed homes, and construction costs are also very similar, which are advantages in countries and regions where wood frame construction is common (North-America, Scotland...).

But steel is far from being the perfect frame construction material.

Steel Frame Construction and Energy Efficiency problems

Steel is an excellent conductor of heat and cold (it conducts them 300 times faster than wood). And that's not good news for energy-efficiency. Without proper insulation, steel studs will carry unwanted cold (or heat) into the building. Even the screws attached to steel studs, or the fasteners, can be powerful and unwanted thermal bridging elements.

The only way to overcome such thermal bridging is through proper levels of foam insulated sheathing covering the steel studs and the screws and fasteners.

Another major problem of steel frame construction is a technical one, more exactly, the fact that connecting steel to other construction material (wood...) isn't a linear and simple task. And since there are few builders with experience in steel frame construction, that may become a problem.

Steel frame construction requirements

Steel framing construction involves the same requirements of wood frame construction in what concerns insulation, sheathing or siding.