Interesting, I would consider their use for interior walls. You have to used a grinder or a chop saw. I guess I will disagree about the strength of wood vs steel – Given equal weights – steel is much stronger. Buy all the lowest priced materials from each place & save thousands…..people make all this stuff way to hard & then blame something else, Your email address will not be published. Is there a certain gauge I need for exterior walls? Depending upon whom you consult, pricing for steel studs is generally considered to be slightly higher than wood. Convenience: Metal wins here, according to Thumb and Hammer who write extensively on the subject of wood vs metal. Framing wood corners & tees for through walls can’t compete with a slap stud corner. Pingback: How To Build Bulkheads With Steel Studs | information. Burning steal chip in the eye from cutting with the steal pro blade. In the end, my desire to have a safe house that lasted for a very long time won out. In my experience, steel guys love steel and wood guys love wood. 40% of commercial buildings today involve the use of steel studs, cost of metal framing has remained relatively steady. Never happened with wood. Durable: Metal studs are impervious to fire, termites, rot, splitting, and any other number of hazards which can affect organic-based building materials such as wood. Wood also wicks moisture, which can lead to mold growth and rot, while metal is immune. As far as steel being stronger than wood many things come into play here. I think that is where it shines. Ease of installation: Steel framing is easier to handle because the studs weigh a third less than wood and can be installed at 24 inches on center. Even with that pricing adjustment, most experts consider steel studs as being cost-competitive with wood after all of the added benefits are taken into consideration. Studs can nest into each other to some … skil saw and and many steal pro blades. 16ga. Also, while steel can melt and fail – it doesn’t let fire spread. I’ve laid open my knuckle from a steel cut once before, and WOW does it slice! I am the home owner and the contractor. The choice of one over the other is often a decision based on fulfilling the needs of the construction project within budget. Metal does rust, so install a vapor barrier or sill gasket between the bottom plate and the concrete floor. Just to clarify: the Thumb and Hammer article that is extensively quoted by the author refers to the light gauge metal framing sold by building centers (such as Home Depot and Lowes) that can only be used for non-load bearing walls. and catastrophic failure and falls all at once. Lots of good stuff in there! Facebook IconTwitter IconLinkedin IconYoutube Icon. This article is confusing to me. However, all of the walls will be load bearing/exterior and support the rafters. The cost is the only thing that keeps me from using these right now in our work. Insects and Fire: Carpenter ants and termites can severely damage wood construction, but steer clear of metal. It went really well. the only real time ive found steel stud handly has been for building bulk heads… typically guys will use 2×2 which is far less stable which is harder to keep straight. The metal industry ruins landscapes and water reservoirs you get everything from acid rain to horrible smells. A wall built with metal studs is virtually fireproof. -Timber requires plywood @ 6/12 fastening pattern, similar to CFS (depends on sheathing). For instance, wood studs are stronger than metal studs, and are able to support more weight without being compromised. Also metal is a very industry oriented metal a common person can not mine the ore, separate it, melt it, and cast it. I have to admit, though, the thought of not using wood to build a home makes me a little sad. You just have to make it bigger and pile more on. Wood which has the same weight-to-strength ratio of steel or aluminum and in many cases more as some studies of Balsa wood being stronger than steel in pound per pound studies. Any time you are screwing something together vs. nailing it, it will take longer. If I were doing this with wood. and 16ga. The steal hits a temp. In China there is no EPA! vs. 2 by 4’s? There are other constant costs that are equal for both walls, like drywall and drywall screws, and paint and primer. While metal framing has the potential for rust in similar conditions, the overall maintenance costs of steel framing are going to be less than the wood-alternative. Steel is not going to be affected by any of these issues. Interesting article!! They are in business to make profit, not produce the best product available. Both wood & metal studs are awesome, efficient materials with correct framing methods & someone who cares. I think a lot of us would feel like a house was colder being built from steel, and not just because of the material’s energy transfer. But that’s it. Metal studs are also healthier than wood studs because metal does not emit VOCs. While that is still true in residential construction, at least 40% of commercial buildings today involve the use of steel studs. My father in law was a union carpenter in NYC and did a lot of work in his house with metal, I am a residential carpenter, and I have dealt with/used metal a lot in offices and school jobs we’ve done, which is purely from a fire code aspect. Steel framing can cost three to 15 percent more than wood studs, based on Steel Framing Alliance calculations, but metal studs offer cost advantages in … You can hang anything off metal studs you have to double up on your studs and go with heavier gauge of studs and flat strap Metal I been hanging 90″ tv for the last 2 years no complaints yet and about the corners everybody that frames with metal studs knows allways go with 20 gauge studs and make a hard corner metal is the future wood is out. I’ve never looked into the environmental info about the steel studs that I use – I’ll check into that sometime, but it’s not the typical conversation that we look for on here. Joe Sainz (Google+) is a union carpenter with experience in concrete construction, landscaping, carpentry and electrical mechanics. She has managed the construction of over $300 million in projects for her clients for new hotels, retail developments, and office buildings. At Cleveland Construction, we feel the following key advantages of steel studs over wood more than compensate for the slightly higher upfront price. Walls are nice and straight, but it is a nightmare trying to hang pictures. personally i hate steel framing.. for a few reasons.. yes you can install foam on the outside to create a thermal break however.. when time comes to hang finished product off it its a nightmare more often than not.. you have to use self tapping screws which take wayy longer than a nail gun.. also in light gauge steel more often than not the stud will strip out and hte screw wont hold in it.. with wood screw it and walk away.