Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | May 19, 1999 02:40am | #1

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   You can't just take a crew of carpenters who are wood framers and expect them to show up and start a steel framing job. There are special techniques and tools required for steel framing. My advice is to get a crew who specializes in this type of construction. If you get an inexperienced crew you are going to pay for OJT, and it may cost you a bundle and a lot of headaches. My crew can handle steel stud construction but I would never take on a steel frame house.

1. 
   Guest_ | May 20, 1999 03:47am | #3

   *I wholeheartedly agree with kcoyner on this one. Get a crew who does steel, or don't do it. Actually, I'm surprised you didn't get a flood of poinions on this. Some have told me steel construction costs 60% more, but others say it costs about the same. (They claim higher material costs, but lower labor costs) A truss company I used to work for took a serious look at doing steel trusses, but backed out. We didn't feel that there was enough (consistent) demand to keep a steel truss crew working. Interest in steel trusses was directly proportional to the price of lumber. If lumber was expensive, they were interested in steel. But that interest quickly disappeared when lumber prices retreated. Hope some of my ramblings have been helpful. Also - have you tried searching the web for steel framing info ?

2. 
   Mark_Carbone | May 20, 1999 03:47am | #2

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   I'm currently working with an architect to design my new home for the South San Francisco Bay area. I would like to use steel framing, but I worry about cost. We realize that by designing specifically for steel - rather than stick for stick replacement of wood - the material costs will be reasonable compared to wood. My concern is that there are so few contractors who know how to work with steel that I'll end up paying an inflated price for construction. Is this still a specialty or are most contractors able to do steel framing?