exterior wall framing for cold climate
Hi so I am currently designing a small weekend two floor cabin for myself that’s 60m2 (645ft2).I am trying to make it as cost effective as possible so I want to make the frame from steel I beam columns and then metal stud wall that will be attached to the columns with an outer layer of corrugated metal as an outer skin.
since the stud wall wont be structural what kind width of stud and stud spacing would i be able to get away with in this case ? 24 inches?
as it is in a cold climate and there is alot of metal will this affect the heating in the cabin ? heating would be supplied by a wood burning stove.
and lastly would i need to have plaster boarder between the insulation and the outer skin of corrugated metal?
I appreciate the help guys, I have only designed brick and concrete buildings for warm climates so this is new to me. even pointing me to a link would be great.
Replies
Metal framing isn't what I'd use in a cold climate. It conducts heat far faster than wood. You can short circuit that with exterior rigid insulation. Still, why reinvent the wheel? What's wrong with wood framing? It's well understood, and most finish and insulation systems are designed to work with it.
I'd absolutely try to go with wood framing in a cold climate. Having said that, we're in far northeast Minnesota, and getting framing lumber has been not only a constant challenge, but we're paying three times the normal cost for each piece.
Same cost situation in Connecticut. I actually bought the Zip sheathing I need for an upcoming job about 2 months ago in an attempt to dodge price escalation. It's been living in my garage.
We're not builders, just building our own home and hoping like crazy to get in before major snow arrives!
A reduction of the in-cavity R-value caused by the wood studs is about 10% in wood stud walls. In metal stud walls, thermal bridges generated by the metal components reduce their thermal performance by up to 55%.
https://www.osti.gov/biblio/345257-thermal-breaking-systems-metal-stud-walls-can-metal-stud-walls-perform-well-wood-stud-walls
Frankie
If you want the steel studs, make a double wall and insulate the gap between.
What kind of metal are you planning for the outside? might need horizontal supports, ala pole barn. The siding will need adequate support to resist the elements. (and pay attention to corrosion by consulting the maker.)