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Q: Why build with steel?
Q: Do steel-framed homes look different from wood-framed ones?
Q: What about the environmental impact of steel construction?
Q: What about cost?
Q: Will steel framing interfere with radio, TV or telephone reception?
Q: Will steel-framed homes perform well in hurricanes, earthquakes and electrical storms?
Q: What benefits can I expect from a metal roof?
Q: Aren't metal roofs unattractive and prone to rust?
Q: Will steel framing affect indoor air quality?
Q: Will constructing an addition to a steel framed house and other remodeling projects become more difficult?
Q: Will I pay higher homeowner's insurance premiums?
Q: Will I be able to sell my home as easily as a wood-framed one?
Q: How do I hang pictures in a steel-framed house?
Q: Why is light gauge steel considered a uniform material?
Q: Will steel maintain its true shape?
Q: Is steel environmentally friendly?
Q: Does using steel help save trees?
Q: What about fire?
Q: What about termites and steel construction?
Q: What about rust?
Q: What about lightning?
Q: How easy is it to remodel my home?
Q: Does steel construction have an advantage in earthquakes or hurricanes?
Q: It’s reported that steel construction helps ease respiratory problems. How?
A: Steel framing is cost-effective, manufactured under quality standards, termite proof and non-combustible.
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A: There are no visible exterior differences between steel framed and traditional wood homes, both are finished with the same type of materials. Walls will remain straight and true without warping.
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A: The North American Steel Industry manages approximately 1/100th of the size of land needed to manufacture wood-based products. Steel is 100% recyclable. Steel framing contains at least 20% recycled steel. Sections of steel framing may have once have been part of an old car, refrigerator or soup can.
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A: Steel-framed houses are cost-competitive with lumber. A typical new single family home uses 10,000 to 12,000 board feet of lumber, accounting for about 10 - 15% of total home cost. As lumber supplies have dwindled and prices risen, steel has become a dependable, stable priced building material.
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A: No. Radio, telephone and television signals pass directly through the walls with no reception interference.
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A: Yes. The strength and flexibility of steel, and the strong positive connections between major building elements can provide a higher level of protection against hurricanes and earthquakes. Steel-framed homes provide a good path to ground for lighting, reducing the chance of fire or personal injury.
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A: Metal roofs are low in maintenance, non-combustible and resist decay and mildew. They also increase a home's resale value.
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A: Not any more. Today's metal roofs are attractive and come in a broad spectrum of colors, designs, thickness and trim. They come in tile and shingle designs, as well as standing seam profiles. Specialized coatings protect metal roofs from rust and discoloration.
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A: Steel framing is recommended by the Healthy House Institute. Steel framing isn't chemically treated for termites and is free of resin, adhesives and chemicals normally found in other construction materials.
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A: Steel framing makes it easier to complete alterations. Just as steel framing allows for larger open spaces, the number of required interior load bearing partitions is also reduced, which enables alterations to be completed without affecting the integrity of the overall structure.
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A: No. Steel has an excellent record of hurricane and earthquake resistance, is not affected by termites, and is non-combustible.
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A: The strength and durability of steel may actually help your home retain its value for a longer time.
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A: Hang them as you would in a conventional home. Toggle bolts or hangers can be used directly on or in the drywall depending on the weight of the picture. Attach screws directly into the interior steel studs when hanging heavier objects. (Studs can be easily located using a magnet).
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A: Steel is roll formed into shapes with precise tolerances. There is very little contraction or expansion with steel allowing sections to maintain their exact shape and size.
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A: Yes. Steel does not shrink or expand when subjected to moisture changes caused by preservative treatments, rain, or changes in humidity. The sections are straight and do not require sorting or special handling. No knots, warping, twisting, splitting, or cracking.
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A: Yes. Steel is the most recycled material in the world. Steel is 100% recyclable and steel framing materials contain at least 25% recycled steel. In addition a steel framed house may contain the equivalent of 6 scrapped automobiles. 60 million tons of steel scrap are recycled each year: more than paper, aluminum, glass and plastic combined.
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A: Yes. 90% of North America's old growth forests have already been harvested and it can take up to an acre of trees to build one house. Wood prices are unstable and the quality has gone down. By contrast steel offers builders an environmentally friendly alternative to wood. There is little waste when using steel framing materials and builders can reduce their disposal costs and divert material from local landfills.
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A: Steel framed houses are fire resistant. Studs, joists, and rafters do not add fuel to a fire. Steel framed houses do not "melt" in a fire. Framing members can resist up to 1,800 degrees F. Actual case studies show steel houses perform very well in house fires, with little or no damage to the framing structure. Plus, houses framed all out of steel can qualify for lower insurance rates.
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A: There are over 1900 species of termites in the world. The most commonly found termites in Hawaii are the Drywood and Formosan Subterranean. A well fed Formosan queen can live for 20 years, and lay 2,000 eggs a day. The winged termites are the reproductive stage of the termite. Steel framing provides a termite proof solution for the structural integrity of your home.
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A: In order for galvanized steel to rust there must be water present. If there is no water, there will be no rust. Steel framing members in wall cavities, attic spaces, or crawl spaces that are not exposed to water will last over 100 years. Forensic studies recently conducted on Oahu residences built over 30 years ago showed steel wall studs with no visible signs of corrosion except in areas with plumbing leaks. Zinc coating protects steel by providing a physical barrier as well as cathodic protection to the underlying steel. When the base steel is exposed, such as at a cut or scratch, the steel is cathodically protected by the sacrificial corrosion of the zinc coating adjacent to the steel.
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A: Steel framed houses do not attract lightning strikes. In the event of a strike, the steel frame offers occupants more protection with several ground paths. The steel frame reduces the likelihood of explosions, secondary fires, or personal injury. Steel skyscrapers have provided occupants with safe offices and residences for years.
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A: Steel framing uses many of the same construction methods used in wood houses. Steel framing can be used for additions and renovations for existing wood houses, especially those with termite damage. A screwed connection makes it easy to move walls and other renovations in the future.
A: Yes! A steel framed home can be engineered for the highest seismic rating given by code. Steel's strength and resiliency help it to survive the strongest earthquakes and a steel framed home can be engineered for the highest wind loads given by code. Steel has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any framing material. For generations we have relied on the strength and durability of steel in our commercial buildings, hospitals, and schools.
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A: The Healthy House Institute recommends steel framing for good indoor air quality. Chemically sensitive homeowners and those susceptible to asthma are exposed to fewer toxins when steel framing materials replace treated lumber that may contain hazardous materials. The American Lung Association encourages the use of steel framing with its Health House program.
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