STEEL STUDS

Michael Holigan: Over one million homes will be built in the U.S. this year, most of them with wood. But with limber sources dwindling, builders are looking for alternatives. One of the best alternatives is steel. Now in the past it's been hard to work with, but we're with a company today who's combining wood and steel together so any builder can use it. These steel studs don't require any different tools or special training for carpenters who are used to building with wood. So Ken, how do you insta ll them?

Ken Huffman: Well, what we'll do is, we'll bend the flange at a 90 degree angle.

M.H.: Okay. Like so?

K.H.: Yes.

M.H.: Set it in place?

K.H.: We'll go ahead and set it in place. I'll bend the other end here. Then pop a couple of staples in it. Now go ahead and do it at this end. All set.

M.H.: Ken, is this light enough you and I can man handle it?

K.H.: I think so.

M.H.: Because these steel studs weigh only about 1/3 as much as wood studs, it takes less man power to set them in place. The wall you and I picked up normally would have taken 3 people, so I guess it's less labor intensive?

K.H.: Yes. Definitely an advantage. It is lighter, but that does not mean that the structural integrity of the product is any less.

M.H.: Ken, how do you attach the outlet box to a steel stud?

K.H.: We'll do it by screwing it to the steel stud. It's the same wood single gang box with a three inch screw. We'll hold it tight against the stud.

M.H.: One of the nice things about the studs is they come with pre-punched holes for the electrical. Now you don't want to scrape the steel and possibly fray the cable, so they have little grommets that pop inside. And the neat thing is, the grommets cannot come out. So they won't accidentally pull them out of the stud. More than 90% of the steel in these studs is recycled steel. 70% is recycled from old cars. And because each piece can be ordered in the exact dimensions needed, there's very little waste compared to traditional wood construction, so it's a very environmentally friendly way to build.

K.H.: When a site builder would order a 92 5/8" stud, that's what we would deliver in our product, a 92 5/8" stud. We can manufacture any length the customer needs.

M.H.: So the framer's not going to go through a lot of saw blades cutting steel studs?

K.H.: No, but the framer can, if he needs to for short knee walls, use a pair of tin snips to cut our stud.

M.H.: Another benefit of this system is the wood in the door frames and the window frames, because your trim carpenter can just nail direct to it. They don't have to worry about attaching to the steel. Plus, it also works down at the base, so they can attach their trim. A lot of steel house they have a hard time, if there's a steel plate on the bottom. Same goes for the top plate. You can put your crown molding right against the wood.

K.H.: Because of the way door jams work and window jams work, it's easier to work with wood. So what we've done is we'll run the king stud with steel and then wrap everything with wood.

M.H.: Another great benefit of steel is the wall is exactly straight. You can't do that with wood. If you're thinking about building with steel, be sure to tell your home owner's insurance agent about it. Some insurance companies will give up to 30% discounts on home owner policies where steel studs are used. And finally, everyone always wants to know, isn't a steel framed house more dangerous when lightning strikes? Not at all. In fact, the steel will serve as the direct route to the ground if lightning were ever to strike your home.

Episode 39 1996 - 97 Season

| Steel Studs | Magnets & Nails | Cabinets & Countertops | Christmas Tree Formula | Blower Door Test | Extended Water Heater Life | Improving Your Credit |

Purchase Video