#STEEL STUD FRAMER SKIN#

With a metal stud building, the contractor will often add wood blocking in the areas where these items may be located. Unlike wood studs, the homeowner cant simply hammer a nail into a wood stud to hang a picture, mirror or television arm. It is critical to work with a building and framing crew who has erected metal stud construction in the past as opposed to hiring a conventional wood framing crew. The learning curve to erect a metal stud building may impact schedule and result in errors on site. Traditional or small builders may be unfamiliar with metal stud framing. Negative: Unfamiliar Among Traditional Framers The cost saved to replace rot, termite, mold, water or fire damage could easily offset the upfront 30% investment to go with metal studs. They will not be as concerned about water or fire damage. For example, the owner will not be reframing the building from termite, mold or rot damage. This upfront cost may be unattractive to building owners that are on a tight budget however it is important to evaluate potential savings throughout the life cycle of the building. The higher cost is not all in the material, it is mostly the installation costs. We personally like the EIFS system and have designed multiple buildings using this type of system.Ĭurrently, metal stud framing is now only about 30% more expensive than wood studs. With EIFS assemblies, there is typically a higher cost involved and can be unfamiliar for traditional home builders. This type of assembly is often referred to as an EIFS assembly. The layer of rigid insulation outside the metal studs and sheathing minimizes thermal bridging and heat transfer through the wall.

#STEEL STUD FRAMER SKIN#

A common way to modify a metal stud wall to meet insulation requirements is to skin the outside of the wall with a layer of rigid insulation. This doesn’t mean metal studs are a poor solution, it simply means that the wall assembly made from metal studs needs to be slightly modified to reduce thermal transmittance. Metal is inherently a better thermal conductor compared to wood. If this time isn’t required, that means a nice chunk of money and time saved on the project. When building a custom home from wood studs, there is often a significant amount of time invested by the plaster and framing crew to shim, fur and float out walls and ceilings to correct them. This impeccable precision of metal stud framing should not be overlooked. Metal studs are manufactured with a high level of precision which will significantly minimize the need to fur out walls or use plaster to float out walls or surfaces that are not plumb or level. Wood members can bow, warp, twist and have endless imperfections that can reduce structural integrity and cause problems during the lifecycle of a building. Positive: Predictable Quality, No Bowing or WarpingĬompared to wood stud framing, the quality and precision of metal studs far exceeds wood members. This will reduce the time the framing crew is on site and most likely lower installation costs. If the metal studs were prefabricated and cut to size in a shop as discussed above, the erection of the frame will be even faster. This also means a lower volume of raw material being used. The light weight makes it easier for the framers to carry and lift into place on site. This is because metal studs are “C” shaped in section and hollow. Metal studs are roughly 1/3 the weight of the same size wood member. There should be minimal to no cutting of members on site as the frame is erected, therefore minimal waste. This requires a bit more coordination and work upfront with the engineers and fabrication team during the design process however, it can drastically reduce waste on site because each framing member is precut to size in the shop. We’ve worked with a metal stud fabrication company called B&T Manufacturing who pre-cuts, pre dimples and fabricates all of the steel members in our buildings. To read more about other measures for protecting your home from wildfires check out our article here.

Metal stud construction with a fire resistive sheathing will help improve the fire resistance of your home. We are plagued by wildfires and many of our clients are willing to invest in any measure to protect their homes from fires. The fire resistive qualities of metal stud construction are becoming more and more appealing to homeowners, especially our area of Southern California.

Steel stud framer