Why Steel?

The Advantages of Building with Steel

A home framed in steel.Steel, the most commonly used metal in building products today, has long been a staple in commercial construction. Recently, however, it has begun to make strong inroads into the residential building market.1

Steel is noncombustible, performs well in high wind and seismic areas, and resists corrosion. It doesn’t shrink or swell with time or humidity changes, so steel framing contributes to better drywall and exterior appearance, as well as the fit of doors and windows.

Building with steel is also friendlier to our environment than conventional construction materials. All steel products, including steel framing, contain recycled steel. Steel framing contains at least 28 percent recycled steel and is completely recyclable. Using recycled steel takes the pressure off renewable resources: a typical 2000-square-foot home requires about 40 to 50 trees, about an acre’s worth. With steel, only the equivalent of about six scrapped automobiles are needed.2 In fact, steel has an overall recycling rate of 64 percent, making it the most recycled material in the world.3

Advantages and Benefits of Building with Steel 3,4,5,6,7

AdvantageBenefit
  • Galvanized steel is noncumbustible.
  • Steel does not burn nor contribute to the spread of a fire.
  • Your home is safer and less vulnerable to fire, which could result in lower insurance premiums.
  • Combined with the use of framing screws that resist uplifting loads more effectively than nails, steel framing produces a structure that performs favorably compared to other building materials during hurricanes and earthquakes.
  • Your home will have a higher probability of surviving an earthquake intact: lighter materials create a lighter structure with stronger connections that results in less seismic force.
  • Higher probability of surviving high winds: screws provide a uch stronger connection than conventional nailing.
  • Steel has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any building material.
  • High strength results in safer structures, less maintenance, and slower aging of structure.
  • Steel is inorganic.
  • Termites and other insects and pests cannot eat steel.
  • Unlike wood and other conventional materials, steel is not vulnerable to any type of fungi or organism, including mold.
  • It will not warp, split, crack, or creep.
  • Galvanized steel studs are manufactured in the quality-controlled setting of a factory and produced in strict accordance with national standards, no regional variations.
  • Your home will have truly square corners and straighter walls.
  • Windows and doors open and close as they should.

Advantages and Benefits of Building with Steel (Part 2)3,4,5,6,7

AdvantageBenefit
  • The inherent strength of steel means that fewer studs need to be used resulting in less scrap and waste (2% for steel vs. 20% for lumber.)
  • The pre-punching of studs provides a product cut-out for electrical and plumbing lines.
  • Potential cost savings.
  • More environmentally-friendly.
  • Pre-punched studs prevents additional waste on the construction site.
  • Steel framing can accommodate all types of commonly-used siding and finish materials.
  • Your home will look like a conventionally-built home.

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