Replies

1. 
   isleter | Aug 18, 1999 02:38pm | #1

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   Vincent,

   I also have been looking for information to help decide on building our custom home with light weight steel frame. It's definetly the future for mass produced track homes, and even for some custom homes like the one we have in mind, I've received quote of around $50,000 for the material from TriSteel in Texas for their top of the line 6,000 sqft model, a local cold rolled steel maufacturer gave an even lower quote of $30,000 for the similar plan. Can you find lumber at these figures?

   There are drawbacks like moisture condensation, steel heat sink and nailing problems, but it's also more fire and earthquake proof for us in southern Cal.

   These are my very preliminary findings and I hope experienced builders can post to provide more useful information.

2. 
   Guest_ | Aug 18, 1999 07:02pm | #2

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   isleter-I built a 2700 sq ft TriSteel home in 1995. Their system is somewhat different from most steel systems-I wonder if your other supplier is quoting the same system. Don't worry about the warnings of condensation, heat sink, cold spots, etc., they are grossly exaggerated. There are far too many hints, pitfalls, things unique to this type of contruction for me to mention in one post. Ask me some specific questions and I'll try to help out.

   By the way-seismic,fire, and insect resistance are big advantages for this system. The costs for heating and cooling are less also.

   John

1. 
   Guest_ | Aug 19, 1999 07:28am | #3

   *I put in metal floor joist in my house. At first it looked like it would cost the same as wood, then you figure in the time to put on a stiffning device all the screws (9) at each joint a stiffner at each load bearing point the cost of screws to hold down the deck and the exta time it takes to screw the deck down . I think I could have done the framing and sheating in 1/3 the time with wood and my Bostich.

3. 
   bill_curtis | Aug 24, 1999 12:02pm | #4

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   Being in the middle of the Pacific galvanized cold rolled steel is a little less than pressure treated lumber (which we build everything with due to the termite problem).

   Labor is more - it takes longer to put it together. You have to build your own headers, or use/attach to red-iron members.

   You are screwing (slower) everything together rather than using a nail gun. Including everything you attach to it - thus sheathing goes slower too.

   It is louder and slower to cut.

   You can really cut up yourself on the ends.

   You usually gotta build your own trusses. Be careful handling them before standing them up.

   But on the plus side you get:

   Really straight walls and rooflines - especially noticeable over long distances.

   Longer spans with a lighter material. Long spans are still straight. And you don't pay a premium for longer length material. 28' pieces cost the same per foot as the 8' pieces.

   Smaller footings as the strength to weight is significantly less - you engineer more to hold down than hold up. (Count this $ towards savings)

   Less movement (temperature/humidity changes are negligable), there is no shrinkage / swelling.
   (Count your future repair $ towards savings)

   It's lighter to move around.

   Less trucking / shipping. 2 pieces fit in the space of 1.

   You can order it to length. Big savings if you need a lot of 10'-6 5/8" pieces that you won't have to cut. (Count all the scrap of the 12' you have to buy in wood towards savings)

   You don't have to sort the "better" pieces from the "not so better" pieces. Don't need to crown rafters or joists.

   Your scrap metal yard will pay you for your rubbish. Not a money maker, but saves in landfill fees and you had to haul it somewhere anyway.

   It won't rot. (Count the repair $ towards future savings)

   Bugs won't eat it. (Count the repair $ towards future savings)

   It says straight.

   Its costs a little more to initally build this way - depends on what you are after.

   Here's a large custom steel home that I'm working on

4. 
   Vincent | Aug 24, 1999 12:02pm | #5

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   Is metal framing a cost effective method of building? Is it energy efficient? What special skills are needed to use it?